by Jane Jamison
“Agreed,” added Roth. “We stick close until this thing’s over.”
They paused, each lost in their own thoughts for the moment. It didn’t take long, however, before Roth mentioned what Coltrane was thinking. “At least she didn’t mention seeing a dragon.”
“I think she almost did, but she caught herself.” He would’ve liked to think it was because she didn’t believe that she’d seen Pike in his beast form, but he doubted it. “She didn’t want the detective to think she was bonkers.”
“More than likely, you’re right.” Pike knocked back the shot and then slammed the glass down on the counter.
Seems Pike’s more upset than he lets on.
“Do you think she’ll mention it later?” asked Roth. “After all, if she saw you land as a dragon, maybe she saw you shift into a man. If she saw that, then we could be ever farther up shit creek.”
“I don’t think she saw me change. She looked up, saw me as a dragon, and then collapsed before I shifted. If she’d seen me, I don’t think she would’ve come back here with us.”
“True enough.” Pike sauntered toward the kitchen.
“What about the other thing?” asked Roth.
“What other thing?”
Coltrane didn’t believe for one minute that Pike didn’t know what Roth meant. “Bullshit. You know it as well as we do. I sure as hell felt something the minute I saw her. Don’t deny that you didn’t.”
“Do you think she’s worth keeping around?”
“That’s an asshole way to say it, Pike, but yeah, I do. We’re going to protect her anyway, right? So why not use the time to get to know her better?”
As though they had to take weeks, months, or years to do that. Dragons had an innate sense that made getting to know a person fast. They didn’t have to know what their favorite color was or how they liked their steak. Instead, they got a gut feeling about a person. From what they’d always heard from other dragons, when a dragon met his mate, it didn’t take long for him to realize it. It was strange to think that they could make a decision about a woman that quickly, especially if she was the one who would take not only their heart but their immortality, too. Once they claimed a woman as theirs and gave her their love, they started aging like humans did. Some dragons even tried their best never to fall in love, preferring to live forever. Thankfully, he and his friends were willing, hell, ready to give up an eternity—if the right woman came along. Was Harper that woman?
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Roth stretched. “I need to fly.”
Coltrane didn’t blame him. He only wished he’d spoken first. “Go ahead. Pike and I will hold down the fort. Once you’re back, I’ll go for a spin and then Pike.”
“No problem with me. I don’t mind being last.” Pike started up the stairs. “Just means I might get back about the time she wakes up. But don’t worry. If you two are asleep, I won’t wake you.”
Coltrane chuckled. “Not a chance, man. Once she’s awake, we’re all awake.” Maybe he’d skip that flight. After all, he wouldn’t want to be gone if she woke up in the middle of the night.
Chapter Five
“I can’t hide out here forever.” Harper knew she looked horrible the way she was shoveling the food into her mouth, but she was starving. Besides, couldn’t they tell from all her curves that she didn’t eat like a bird?
Roth offered her seconds on the bacon and then passed the platter to Coltrane. “Yeah, you can. At least until the killer is caught.”
“Besides, you like it here, right?” asked Coltrane.
“You’ve all been very nice. I can’t thank you enough for everything you’re doing for me.”
“No thanks necessary,” answered Roth. “We’re glad to help out.”
“And we’re going to keep helping until we know you’re safe,” added Coltrane. Pike, with his mouth full, murmured something along those same lines.
Waking up in the comfy bed to the delicious aroma of bacon and eggs would be an easy thing to get used to. She’d actually smiled until the memory of Carly’s brutalized body hit her. For almost an hour, she’d stayed in bed, sobbing, while she ignored their knocks on the door and pleas to help. At last, she’d dragged herself out from between the covers, taken a shower, and put on her uniform for work. By the time she’d made it downstairs and into the kitchen, she felt as though she’d already worked a long, hard day. The problem was, she probably looked like she felt. Which, of course, made their complements all the more appreciated.
“But why?” She put her fork down, forcing herself not to eat so fast. “You don’t even know me.”
“Sure we do.” Coltrane’s smile lit up the room. “We know you’re a good person. From what your neighbors said”—his smile dimmed as though he realized he was bringing up the memory of that awful day—“you’re a good person. You’re a dental hygienist, right?”
She nodded, giving in to the urge to put more eggs into her mouth. “Uh-huh.”
“Which means you’re like a nurse. You help people. That shows you’re a good person.”
“I’m hardly like a nurse. I clean people’s teeth. I don’t save lives.”
“Don’t dismiss what you do.” Pike offered her more eggs. “Besides, we have good instincts about people, and our instincts are telling us that you’re worth fighting for.”
She froze, the fork she held suspended in mid-air. The way he’d said it, “worth fighting for” seemed to hold a lot more weight than the fact that they thought she was a good person. As though they’d lay down their lives for her.
You’re being ridiculous. Why would they die for you?
She lowered her gaze, unable to look into Pike’s green eyes. From the second she’d come into the kitchen, she’d been all too aware of how amazingly sexy they were. They were large men without an ounce of fat on them. Everything about them spoke of strength and power, not only physically but emotionally. They had muscles on top of muscles without being too bulked out like a bodybuilder. Their faces were nice-looking with handsome, cut jaws and high cheekbones that made her ache to have them touch her. Raw sexuality oozed from them, flowing over her and causing a rush of lust she found harder and harder to resist.
“Harper?” asked Coltrane.
She looked up to find them staring at her. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
They exchanged a telling glance.
“Yeah, we did. I was saying that you looked like you need more sleep.”
Damn. So I do look like shit.
“I’m sure I do.”
She resisted the urged to smooth her hair. Although they’d packed for her, even including her phone and a note from Megan asking her to call her as soon as possible, they hadn’t packed a few necessary things like makeup or her curling iron.
“But I need to go into work today. If I sit around doing nothing, I’ll think about—” How was she supposed to finish that sentence? “I’ll think about my dead friend who was murdered because of me?” No, it was hard enough to think it, much less to speak it.
“You’ll be safer here.” Roth’s black eyes locked onto her.
“You don’t have to go with me.” She looked from one man to the other. “But I’m going.”
Coltrane jerked back as though she’d struck him. “And let you go alone? No way in hell.”
“He’s right. If you’re set on going to work, then we’re going with you. We can hang out until you’re done.”
She almost laughed at Roth. Dr. Lambert, her current employer, would have a cow to have three huge men sitting around his waiting room all day. “I don’t think my boss will like that.”
“We don’t care whether your boss likes it or not.”
She hadn’t known them long, but she’d already figured out that, despite his usual calm demeanor, Pike could get riled up easier than the other two men. “At least it won’t be all day. I still have to go into the police and give them a statement. You’ll go with me when I do, won’t you?”
“Damn straight we will.”
Coltrane’s hand on top of hers gave her comfort, and a whole lot of something more. Heat flared inside her as though he’d struck a match to her pussy. She glanced down at his hand. It had to be her imagination, but did his hand feel warmer than a hand should?
“Okay, then we’d better get going. The doctor doesn’t like people showing up late for work.”
She pushed the chair back, ready to leave. Her phone’s ring tone, one of her favorite country songs, started playing. “Let me get this, and then I’ll be ready to leave.”
“Sounds good.” Coltrane rose and whacked Pike on the shoulder. “We’ll clean up while you do. Take your time.”
“Thanks again. Really.” She’d never had any man cook for her before. Snatching up the phone from the table in the hallway, she hurried into the adjoining office and closed the door behind her. “Megan?”
“Oh my God, are all right? I’ve been worried sick about you. Why didn’t you call me?”
She should have, but she’d been able to muster up enough energy to do so. If she called Megan, who had known Carly through her, she’d have to tell her the awful truth. She eased into a chair. “Megan, I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“I know about Carly.”
The pain in her friend’s voice matched the gut-wrenching ache in her stomach. “How’d you find out?”
“It was on the news.” Her voice grew cold. “For about two fucking minutes. They spent a whole five minutes talking about Dr. Rump’s death. Did you hear about that? But it was like Carly’s death was an afterthought. Like she was an unimportant person who didn’t rate his coverage. I can’t believe someone would hurt her. She was the best person.”
Harper struggled to keep the tears burning her eyes from being heard in her voice. If she started crying, she’d be lost. “She was absolutely the best. And yeah, I know about Dr. Rump.”
“Damn it, Harper, why didn’t you call me? Where are you anyway?”
“I’m staying with some friends.”
“What friends?” Jealousy tinged Megan’s tone.
“I just met them, but they live on the outskirts of town, away from everything. I’d tell you where, but I’m trying to keep a low profile.”
“Wow. And you can’t even tell me?”
“No. Sorry.”
The silence that followed was awkward and painful.
“Damn it, Harper, I worried all night about you after I stopped by the apartment and left your purse and phone. Oh shit, I didn’t think about it until now. What if the killer had shown up when I was there?”
“I don’t want to even think about that.” She didn’t have to ask how Megan had gotten inside. Either Carly had left the door unlocked or she’d used the key Harper had given her for emergencies. “I’m just thankful you’re all right.”
“Where were you all night? With those friends? Shit, girl, I looked and looked for you. I finally gave up and left after a woman told me that you’d taken off with some guy. Still, when you didn’t come home later, I had a right to be upset. Then when I heard about poor Carly, I thought I’d lose it. Were you home when it happened? Are you all right?”
“No. I was with my friends at first, but then we went home. We were the ones who discovered—her body.” She closed her eyes and fought to maintain control of her emotions.
“Shit. That’s awful. Still, I’m so thankful you weren’t home. Even if you didn’t call me and let me know what was going on.”
Wait. What did Megan say?
Harper sat up straight, her tears forgotten. She hated to think it, but there was a time when she would’ve gone home with a man. In fact, she’d done exactly that. But that wasn’t the important part of what Megan had said. “What woman are you talking about? Did you mention me by name? Did you know who she was? Do you know her name?”
“She asked who I was looking for, and I told her where I’d left you. That’s when she said she’d seen you go off with some guy. But, Harper, she acted like she knew who you were. Like you were old friends who hadn’t gotten together in a long time. She even asked me if you still lived at the same address, and when she told me a wrong address, I gave her the right one.”
A sinking feeling made Harper nauseous. It didn’t take long for Megan to realize what she’d done. “Megan, I think that may have been Dr. Rump’s killer. And maybe Carly’s.”
“Oh my God.” Megan sounded fragile. “I told her where you lived. It’s my fault that Carly’s dead.” Sobs echoed through the phone.
“No, it’s not. You didn’t know. Megan, please, stop crying and think. Did you know her? Did she tell you her name?”
“No. I didn’t know who she was. Then again, I didn’t know many people at the wedding or at the reception. Oh God, it’s my fault.”
She understood how Megan felt. The same guilt wracked her. “If I hadn’t witnessed the murder, Carly would still be alive. I’m the one to blame.” Anger surged through her. “No, damn it. The killer is the one to blame. Think again. Can you describe her?”
“I don’t know. I guess so. But she kept glancing away, and I was so busy looking for you that I didn’t pay close attention. Are you sure it was a woman? If you saw the murder, can’t you describe her to the police?”
Maybe she was wrong, but too many coincidences had happened for her to dismiss the idea. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to speak. “I saw the person who killed Dr. Rump, but I didn’t see her face. I did, however, hear her voice. It was definitely a woman.”
“Shit.”
“Megan, what was she wearing? Was she wearing a hoodie?”
“A hoodie? No. She was a petite blonde woman. I think she had on a dress, but like I said, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to her.”
“You need to go to the police station and let them know about her. They can check her out. I’m going a little later, after I go into work for an hour or so. Maybe I should go to the station first thing, but I don’t know if I can stand to do it.”
“I’m shaking. What if it really was the same woman? Harper, we should go to the police right now.”
She shook her head, even though she was on the phone. “I can’t. I have to do something else, anything normal. Besides, I have an appointment with the detective in charge of the case later this morning. He might not even be there right now. You could meet us at the station around ten. Please, Megan, it would really help to have you there.”
“I can’t believe that was the killer. No, it had to be a coincidence.”
“I don’t think so.”
“She was probably talking about someone else.”
“Someone with the name Harper?”
“You’re right. I’ve never known anyone else with your name. Shit, Harper, I’m scared.”
“Please meet me there, okay?”
The pause on the other end of the line wasn’t encouraging. At last, however, Megan faced what she had to do.
“Okay. Let’s meet right inside the front doors of the station, okay?”
“Inside sounds good.” She didn’t want to stand outside the station anyway. There might be too many people milling around for her to feel comfortable. “I’m headed to work right now. See you later. Oh, and Megan?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful, okay?”
“I will if you will.”
She ended the call and hurried outside, where the men were waiting. For a moment, gratitude mixed with another sensation as desire swept through her. She paused, her stride breaking as the need for them to touch her, to hold her, outweighed even her fear.
“Are you all right?” asked Pike.
“No.” She managed to put on a smile. “But I will be.” She hoped she was right.
* * * *
“I can’t have those men sitting out there. They’re starting to scare my clients.”
Harper knew better than to argue with the dentist, but she could tell by the expressions on her coworkers’ faces that he was way off. If anything, his female clients were quite happy to wait with the sexy men. She’d stalled long enough, but now was a good time to tell him everything.
“I’m sorry about that, but they’ll be leaving with me.”
He shot her an irritated look then peered through the glass door separating the office from the waiting area. “No way. I’m not going to stand for them sitting there all day. You have to tell them to leave right now. Why are they here anyway?”
Telling him that she had to leave early—which meant rescheduling cleaning appointments—was always a difficult thing to do. Today, however, would be even worse. “They’re here to keep me safe.”
“What does that mean?”
She lowered her voice, hoping to keep the others from overhearing. “I witnessed a murder.”
“You did what?” His voice boomed around the office, drawing the attention of both coworkers and those in the waiting area.
She shook her head at Coltrane as he eased closer, ready to come to her aid. “Please, don’t say it so loud.”
“Harper, it’s bad enough that you’re going to be leaving, but telling me this outlandish story is indefensible.”
“The doctor I was going to go work for was killed.” She forced her emotions down, her voice taking on a dead, robotic tone. “I saw it happen.”
Should she tell him about Carly? Yet, she found she couldn’t. If she did, she’d break down in front of everyone.
His frown was gone, replaced by worry etching his features. Dr. Lambert was a good man at heart, even if he was loud and overbearing at times. “You saw it happen? Holy crap, Harper, are you all right?”
She drew in a hard breath. “I’m okay, but I have to meet with the detective on the case this morning. I know it’s short notice and all, but—”
“No, no. Don’t worry about your appointments. We’ll figure out something.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but does that mean you won’t be leaving my employment?”
She knew he hadn’t meant it in a bad way. “That’s the other thing I wanted to tell you. I’d love to keep my job if you still want me to work for you.”
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