by Terri Reed
Yet he couldn’t refrain from shifting his head to place a kiss on her palm where it had cupped his cheek. Her fingers flexed against his jaw and her eyes held his. The yearning, so bright in her eyes, enflamed the attraction arcing between them.
It took all of his willpower to straighten and step back.
“That’s my girl,” he murmured and shut the door.
As he rounded the front end of the SUV, his words echoed back in his head. Since when had he considered her his girl?
TWELVE
“Well, Miss Potter, you twisted your ankle.”
Ariel breathed a sigh of relief at the doctor’s announcement.
Dr. Chen looked at Hunter. “Will you be taking care of Miss Potter while she recovers from this latest injury?”
“I am,” Hunter said.
The doctor smiled. “Well, that is very interesting.”
Hunter tugged at the collar of his tux.
Ariel didn’t understand what was going on between these two men, but whatever it was clearly made Hunter uncomfortable. If she weren’t so exhausted and overwrought from tonight’s ordeal, she’d tease Hunter. But all she wanted to do was go home. “Can I leave now?”
Dr. Chen looked to her, compassion in his eyes. “Of course. For the next twenty-four hours, ice and elevation.”
She groaned. “Seriously? I am so tired of resting.”
“Doctor’s orders.” Hunter gave her a stern look that was softened by the smile teasing the corners of his lips.
Her heart did a little flip. He was so handsome and attentive, she wanted to bottle up this fuzzy warm sensation for later when he was no longer a part of her life.
“I’ll have a wheelchair brought over along with your discharge papers,” Dr. Chen said.
After the doctor exited the exam room, Hunter took her hand. His palm was warm against hers. She curled her fingers around his.
“Do you have any idea who would’ve tried to hurt you?” he asked.
Her breath hitched. “You aren’t confident that the person targeting me is Violet?”
“I haven’t ruled her out,” Hunter said. “But it seems like there’s more going on here.”
The ominous tone in his voice sent a shiver down her spine. She tightened her hold on his hand. “I don’t know. I can’t imagine anyone in the sled dog community would want me dead. I mean sure, there’s friendly competitions between mushers and breeders, but nothing that would warrant these assaults.”
An image flashed before her eyes. She bit her lip with dread.
Hunter squeezed her hand. “What is it?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” She hoped it was nothing.
“It could be something,” he insisted. “Tell me.”
Anxiety gripped her and she said, “I thought, maybe, I saw my ex-boyfriend working for the catering company. But I only saw him from the side for a brief moment.”
Hunter’s expression hardened. “Tell me about this guy.”
“Jason Barba.” Just saying his named produced acid in her gut. “We met about five years ago. He worked for the bank as a teller and he asked me out. He seemed nice and stable.” She blew out a scoff. “We dated for over a year. But he wanted more out of the relationship than I was willing to give. He became very possessive, which was irritating and unnerving. So I broke it off with him.”
That was an unpleasant experience. She shuddered at the memory. “He didn’t take the rejection well. He made a scene every time I went into the bank. They finally fired him and he’d left town. But now, apparently, he’s back.”
“All right. I’ll have him brought in for questioning.” There was a hard edge to his voice.
Ariel’s stomach twisted. “Could he be behind these attacks on me?”
“Only time will tell.”
Though she hated the idea that Jason could harbor ill will toward her, especially after all this time, having another suspect was far better than assuming that Violet was trying to kill her.
The doctor returned with a wheelchair and post treatment paperwork. He also gave her a couple of over-the-counter pain pills that she washed down with a cup of water.
“Call if the pain becomes too much,” Dr. Chen said. “I can prescribe something stronger.”
“I’m sure this medication will be fine,” she assured him. “It’s just a sprain. I’ve had worse.”
When she was settled in Hunter’s SUV and they were headed to her property, he said, “You don’t have to be in pain. It’s okay if you need something stronger. You’ve had a horrible, rough couple of days. A head injury, a throat injury and now your ankle. That’s a lot for anyone.”
“I’m tough,” she said, half joking. Though she was exhausted and could sleep for a week, she kept her chin up.
Hunter laced his fingers through hers again.
She liked this. Liked him reaching out to her and holding her hand. It made her feel loved.
The word reverberated through her heart and settled like a flower petal falling on snow. Soft and gentle. If she allowed herself, she could fall in love with this man. He was tender, kind and protective. He seemed to get her. Understand her. Something very few people did.
But even entertaining the idea of loving Hunter was foolish. He had no emotions for her beyond the duty to his job. She glanced down at their entwined hands. Could she be wrong? And if so, what did she intend to do about it?
* * *
Hunter carried Ariel through the front door of her house, hesitating in the entryway. Juneau paused as well, looking up at him as if asking, what now?
Good question, buddy.
Ariel had slid her arms around his shoulders and rested her cheek against the side of his neck. The tender affection crowding his chest was becoming familiar where she was concerned. He didn’t want to let her go. But he had to. She needed to change into more comfortable clothes and put her ankle up.
She lifted her head and, using the soft palm of her hand, turned his face toward hers. “Is everything okay?”
He glanced down the lighted hall toward her bedroom. “Yes. Everything is good,” he said, his voice husky. He slowly lowered her onto a dining room chair.
“I need to check on the dogs,” she said. “Trevor would have let them out for their last break, but—”
“I can do it.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a grateful smile. “You can leave Sasha with Skye.”
“Okay. I’ll be right back.” To Juneau he said, “Stay with Ariel.”
Juneau moved to her side in answer and made noises that sounded like he was trying to talk.
Hunter shared an entertained smile with Ariel.
Needing the cool air to bring back some sanity, he jogged over to Officer Gorman in his cruiser. After checking in and being assured all was well, he grabbed the crutches that Dr. Chen had insisted they bring with them out of his SUV.
Back inside the house, he helped Ariel to stand and adjusted the crutches beneath her armpits. “You need to get used to these for a few days.”
Her light brown gaze snapped to his. “Twenty-four hours. Dr. Chen said twenty-four hours of elevation and ice. After that I am resuming my life. I can’t keep sitting around doing nothing.”
He got that she was a woman of purpose and liked to keep busy. He could only imagine how hard lying low was for her. But it couldn’t be helped. “Off to your room to change into something comfortable. I’ll get an ice pack ready.”
She made a face. Then, using the crutches and her good leg, she hobbled down the hall to her bedroom. Just before she closed the door, he called to her, “Give a shout if you need anything.”
Resting on the crutches, she turned to look back at him. “I will.” Sparks danced in her eyes.
He shrugged, unwilling to apologize for his concern or his offer of help. That was why he was her
e and he’d best remember the reason.
She entered her room and shut the door behind her. Hunter scrubbed a hand over his face. He really should have asked Maya or Poppy to take over this assignment. He still could. If he were honest with himself, something he aimed for, he was growing attached to Ariel. More attached than he should, which was reason enough to find somebody else to take over this assignment.
However, he was loath to do so because, well, because he cared for the woman. There, he admitted it to himself. If anything happened to her and he could’ve prevented it...at least with him here, he would know that everything that could be done was being done to protect her.
His father’s mocking voice inside his head jeered at him, Arrogance is not going to get you anywhere, young man.
Was he being arrogant believing he could protect Ariel? Maybe. But it was a small price to pay to keep her safe.
He found a large plastic baggie in a drawer and filled it with ice cubes from the freezer.
While he waited for Ariel to return, he called Colonel Gallo and gave her a full report of what had transpired that night.
“I’ll have Brayden track down this Jason Barba,” Lorenza promised him.
“Let me know if you find him,” he said. “I want to be the one to question him.”
There was a moment of silence before Lorenza asked, “Are you becoming personally invested in this case?”
Hunter sucked in a sharp breath, and he contemplated hedging the truth. But he knew the colonel would see right through him. “Yes,” he said. “I am. But not so much that I can’t do my job.”
“Good to hear that. When we find this ex-boyfriend, we will let you know.”
“Thank you, Colonel. I appreciate that.”
He hung up and turned to find Ariel standing behind him, leaning on the crutches. She’d scrubbed her face clean of any makeup and tied her hair back into a loose ponytail, and she wore the college sweatshirt and sweatpants she had on that first night. So pretty his chest ached.
He cleared his throat. “You should sit.” He held up the bag of ice.
She rolled her eyes and hobbled over to the chair. He rushed to help her sit, popping up the footrest. Then he grabbed two accent pillows from the couch, tucked them under her ankle and placed the ice pack on top of her swollen foot. The whole time her gaze tracked his movements like a physical touch.
“Would you like water or tea?” He pivoted toward the kitchen, but she snagged his hand, stopping him before he could move away. Her eyes were wide and full of trust and some other emotion that made his blood quicken.
A small smile on her lips drew his attention to her words.
“I know I’ve asked this before, but why are you being so kind to me?” She tilted her head. “It’s almost as if you care.”
His heart squeezed tight. He wouldn’t lie to her. “I do care, Ariel. Someone’s trying to hurt you. I’m not going to let them.”
* * *
She tugged him closer so that he had to crouch down next to the side of the chair. Curiosity burned in his chest.
Releasing his hand, she twisted so that she could reach up and cradle his jaw, claiming his focus with her eyes. “I can’t tell you how much your presence here means to me. How much you mean to me.”
His mouth went dry. Her words and the sweet vulnerability in her gold-dusted eyes filled him with awe. His gaze dropped to her lips, then lifted back to her eyes.
“Hunter,” she whispered.
There was so much in the way she said his name. A plea, a question, a demand. Did he dare kiss her? Did he dare refuse?
Who was he kidding? He could no more refuse her than he could stop breathing. Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss against her mouth. Her hands slid into his hair, gripping his head, pulling him closer.
The kiss deepened, and sensation rocketed through him, streaking along his nerve endings and making the world fade. Then her lips softened beneath his and tender emotions burned the backs of his eyes. They drew apart and he pressed his forehead against hers to let his heart rate calm and his breathing even out.
Eventually he leaned back on his heels, away from her, forcing her to let him go. “Ariel—” he began, not sure what, exactly, he intended to say. “I’m—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Let it be.”
Let it be? Confusion clouded his brain. She didn’t want to talk about that incredible kiss?
Sitting back into the recliner and turning her face away from him, she said, “I’ll sleep here tonight. Do you mind turning off the lights?”
“I’ll turn all but the kitchen light off.” He straightened. “You won’t be sleeping out here alone. Juneau will be right here.”
“I appreciate both of you looking out for my safety.”
The trust in her eyes brought a lump to his throat. He swallowed and undid the constricting bow tie at his neck. “You should rest.”
A soft smile touched her lips. “You looked very handsome tonight. Everyone—well—every woman in the banquet hall thought so.”
He didn’t care what anyone else thought. All he cared about was the fact that she found him handsome.
He spun away and strode to the guestroom. Okay, maybe his boss was right to question how personally involved he was getting in this case, how personally involved he was becoming with Ariel.
Was he losing perspective? Exercising bad judgment because he’d let down his guard and let Ariel in?
* * *
Ariel awoke warm yet stiff from sleeping in the recliner. A thick blanket had been put over her, but her foot was cold still. She glanced down to note that the ice bag had been refilled with new ice. Joy spread through her chest at his tender consideration.
Juneau sat beside the recliner, staring at her as if waiting for her to awaken. Her heart melted. Both man and beast were taking such good care of her.
She closed her eyes and relived the kiss.
So much better than she’d imagined it would be. And everything she’d hoped for. She hadn’t planned on kissing him, but she’d been so emotional and had needed the connection.
Had it affected him as much as it had her?
She longed to talk to Violet right now. Her best friend would help Ariel process the overwhelming emotions swamping her.
She lifted up a prayer for Violet, praying she’d be found soon. Alive and well. It hurt to the core to consider her friend might be injured or worse.
Juneau whined as if wanting her attention. She scrubbed the dog behind the ears.
“Where is your handler?” she asked.
Juneau cocked his head, and then his gaze went to the back door.
Was Hunter letting her dogs out of their kennels?
Ariel tried to reach the crutches, but they were just beyond her fingertips, so she sat forward to remove the ice bag and set it on the arm of the recliner. Then, leaning down to release the footrest while keeping her injured ankle elevated, she scooted to the edge of the recliner and stretched as far she could to grab the crutches. It wasn’t easy to maneuver them beneath her armpits, but she managed it and used her good leg to stand upright. Her ankle throbbed for a moment, then settled down.
She blew out a breath.
Between her head, her throat and her ankle, she didn’t know what else anybody could do to her. Dread camped out in her chest. They could kill her.
She hobbled to the bathroom, and when she returned to the living room, Hunter was in the kitchen while Juneau ate his kibble.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked.
Seeing him making himself at home in her kitchen filled her with an odd and wonderful sense of contentment. “I am. The dogs?”
“I let them all out one by one so they could do their business and have a moment to chase the ball. And then I called Trevor. He’ll be here soon to feed them. You need to get back in the
recliner.”
She growled, then regretted it as the reverberation hurt her throat. “You’re going to take this twenty-four-hour thing seriously, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “Of course. I found eggs in your refrigerator and some spinach. I’ll make a scramble.”
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten much of the dinner at the banquet. “There’s bread in the freezer for toast.”
“You keep your bread in the freezer?”
“I buy the organic, non-preservative kind. If I leave it out, it goes bad too quickly before I can eat it all.”
“Makes sense.”
She hobbled back to the recliner and got herself situated. Before she could blink, Hunter was there, tenderly lifting her ankle to slide the pillows under it. He grabbed the ice pack and gently laid it over the top of her ankle.
She’d embarrassed him last night with her thanks and her kiss. Or maybe he was overwhelmed, like she was? Either way she didn’t regret kissing him. Ariel had never had anyone pamper her like this, making her feel special. She didn’t care that it was part of his job. For now, he was here, and she was going to enjoy every moment of it.
THIRTEEN
Ariel sat on the edge of her bed and tested her injured foot on the third morning after the near miss of being crushed by the banquet hall backdrop. She chalked up her restless nights of sleep to the pain in her foot, but it was probably more the lingering fear. And no way would she admit to being kept awake by her growing affection for Hunter.
She was falling for him and there wasn’t much she could do about it. Except keep the knowledge to herself if she hoped to prevent being hurt when his assignment to protect her ended.
Today, she was done sitting around babying her foot. After the first twenty-four hours had passed, she’d been unable to bear much weight on that leg. Hunter had insisted she continue to heal with rest. She’d grumbled but had to admit it was really nice to have him caring for her. Her head no longer throbbed, her throat was better and the swelling in her ankle had gone down so much that her foot looked normal.