by Rivi Jacks
“We checked the fence—the whole eighty acres—and then checked it again, looking for a hole, a weak spot—anything.” He circles slowly as I worry my bottom lip. “I suspected you came over the top—but I couldn’t see how or even where. Most of the trees had been trimmed or cut down near the fence.
“But now that I know you’re a dryad who can climb like a monkey,” he taunts in a low, hoarse voice, “I know that’s exactly how you got in here.” My chest is so tight I can barely breathe. “So now you are going to tell me where,” he demands softly. He stops circling me and steps closer, his eyes locked on mine.
I step back. He takes another step, as do I.
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “You are going to tell me where the tree is that you climbed to get in here.” I shake my head slightly. He moves another step forward, and I take one back. Geez, he can be intimidating.
“I adore your spirit, Sofie,” he murmurs. He reaches a hand toward me. I almost step back, proud when I hold my ground. He fingers the end of my braid hanging over my shoulder, over my breast. I gasp softly, and my nipple tingles at the brush of his fingers. “However, I want you to tell me—now.”
I glance at the door I hope leads to the outside.
“Don’t,” he warns.
I bite my lip, drawing his eyes to my mouth. I tell him in a soft voice, “I can’t.”
“Yes.” His gaze returns to mine. “You can.”
No, I can’t. He’ll cut it down, and Gramps used to climb that tree as a boy. I was the only one he shared those stories with.
“Sofie,” his voice is at once gentle, causing me to relax, “I need you to tell me.”
What? He’s making this some kind of trust thing. Well, that goes both ways! I raise my guard back up. “Okay.” I see the whisper of a smile cross his lips. “But I need you to promise me something first.” My voice is not as steady as I wish.
“What?” Suddenly he’s the leery one.
“Promise first.”
I stare at his unreadable expression. He says slowly, “I cannot give you a blind promise.”
“Why?”
“Because I keep my promises,” he states.
“Well then.” He gives a thorough sigh. “You want me to trust you,” I whisper. “Well, I need you to trust me in return.”
He is quiet while he searches my face, making me nervous. “All right,” he agrees at last.
“Promise.”
I see a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. “Against my better judgment—I promise.”
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You can’t… cut the tree down.” He exhales sharply. “Y-You promised.”
“Sofie!” His voice is mildly reprimanding. “I can’t leave my defenses vulnerable—because of a tree.” I bite my lip. “It’s just a tree!” His reply stings and I know he thinks I’m being irrational and silly. He’s right though. The safety of Lucas and his men is what’s important. He gives me a long look before stepping to the desk, picking up the phone, and punching in a number.
He sounds annoyed. “I’m sending Sofie to you. She’ll show you where the tree is that she climbed to get in.” I look down, feeling his eyes on me as he speaks. “That’s right,” he snaps into the phone. “Oh no, we’re not cutting it down.” What! I look up, right into his eyes. “That would be too logical.” He gives me a sardonic smile. “We’re going to move the fence.”
I look down again, embarrassed and feeling childish. I’m tired of being in this room with him, tired of the overwhelming effect he has on me. I head for the door, desperate to get out. As I turn the doorknob, he’s there, pushing against the door so I can’t open it.
“No,” he says in his deep voice, “I’m not done with you yet.” He turns me to face him, but I won’t meet his gaze. Something in my demeanor alerts him to my distress. He doesn’t say anything else, but I feel his stare.
“Max is expecting you,” he says at last, his voice quiet. He reaches around me for the doorknob and leans close, inhaling deeply. I keep my head down, grateful he’s let me escape.
The training session is all but over as I go out back to where Max waits. He’s already sent everyone inside. We drive through the woods in a utility vehicle to the spot where the stately old oak sits on the other side of the fence.
I can tell that the tree’s proximity to the house surprises him. He has a spotlight which I use to light up the limb, high up near the crown of the tree, that intertwines with the large oak inside the fence. He turns startled eyes on me, but he doesn’t say anything.
I don’t see Lucas again before I leave; he is either at his house or still inside the arena. Either way, I feel immensely relieved.
Sawyer, jacked up with the excitement of showing me his new toys, sets the mood as we drive to the large pond on the back boundary of their property. After we park, Sawyer pulls a gun out of a canvas bag. “This is a Mossberg 500 Tactical.” He hands it to me. It’s surprisingly light.
Sawyer takes it back and loads it. When he finishes, he heads down to the pond. Pointing the gun across the water, he pulls the trigger and a blast of flame shoots out about thirty feet.
“What the hell, Sawyer!” I shout excitedly. “A flamethrower?”
“Dragon’s Breath,” Sawyer says as he hands me the shotgun again.
This is an awesome shotgun. It has a shoulder sling and a folding front grip, which I like. I aim over the water and a flame shoots out and sparks light up the night.
“Whoeeee!” Sawyer shouts.
“Oh my gosh!” I exclaim, amazed at Sawyer’s new toy. “What is this?”
“They’re pyrotechnic shotgun rounds called Dragon’s Breath,” Sawyer explains. “Shoots a flame for about three to five seconds and can catch the woods on fire.”
“Or your house,” Sam makes clear.
“That too,” Sawyer confirms. “That’s why you’ll only use these shells under extreme conditions.”
“Me?” My voice comes out high-pitched and girly.
“Yeah, we kept a few, but we got them for you. The gun is yours too.”
“Sawyer—”
“Don’t, Sofe,” Sam says firmly. “We want you safe. Jake pitched in too.”
“Why do y’all think I need this?”
“Chances are you won’t. As I said, we’ll all have some. It’s better being on the safe side,” Sawyer assures me.
“But this shotgun?” I’m at a loss for words.
“Bad-ass, I know, and it fits you, cuz.” In a more serious tone, he says, “It’s time you had your own shotgun, and the shorter stock on this one will be easier for you. And—” he pauses, looking over at Sam “—these rounds can catch a Kihn on fire.”
“What?” I glance from one to the other.
“You can set one on fire, and it burns as if it were paper—quickly to ash,” Sam explains. “That’s what Lucas told us.”
Lucas knew about this.
“They told us wood was the only sure way to kill them,” I remark.
“Fire too. Lucas says fire is one of their greatest fears. So, the intimidation factor is a plus,” Sam adds.
Sawyer lays the gun in the back of the Jeep. “Once the boys see your new gun, you’ll be the most popular girl on the playground.”
I laugh. “Just what I hoped for, Sawyer.”
“Jake’ll be the main one wanting to play with your new toy,” Sam jokes.
“Seriously, guys, thanks.” I look from one to the other. I don’t know what else to say. Sawyer smiles and slings his arm across my shoulders. I get a little misty eyed. These men of mine—
Jake isn’t home when Sawyer and Sam drop me off, but Wolf is sitting on my front porch. As I unlock the door, Andy calls out to let me know he and Jerry are there.
I take my new shotgun and shells back to my bedroom, loaded and ready to fire. I’m combing my hair after my shower when Emma Rae calls. I’d hoped she’d let me wait until tomorrow to tell her what went on in Lucas’ office. No su
ch luck. No one is as mulish as Emma Rae when she wants to know something.
I explain the tree situation, and she assures me I’ve done the right thing. “It’s too bad the tree has to come down,” she says, “but it’s not as bad as all of them being murdered in their sleep.”
“He’s not cutting it down,” I mumble.
She’s silent for a moment, which is unusual for Emma Rae. “What’s he gonna do then?”
“He’s... moving the fence.” I wish I didn’t have to get into this with her tonight.
Again, silence. “Why’s he doing that?”
I close my eyes. “I made him promise he wouldn’t cut it down.”
“How’d you do that?”
“Uh... Emma Rae, can we please talk about this later? I honestly don’t want to think about Lucas Santiago any more tonight.”
“He’s not cutting down a tree that might endanger his men. Instead, he’s going to the expense of moving a high-dollar fence. For you.”
I close my eyes again and sigh. “I’m going to tell him to go ahead. I understand why it has to come down.”
“Sofie.”
I recognize that tone. “Please, Emma Rae, I don’t want to think about him tonight.”
“Oh, but I bet you dream about him.” She sounds smug. “I know I do.”
I give a strangled laugh. “I don’t, and I’m going to tell Andy you’re dreaming about his boss instead of him,” I threaten, hoping she’s kidding.
“Oh, I dream about Andy too. They’re both right there doing wild and crazy things to my body.” I laugh. “Sofie, you can’t tell me you’re not dreaming about all those hot kisses.”
“What?”
Another silence comes from her. “Sofie, hasn’t Lucas kissed you?”
Now I’m silent. “No,” I finally answer, wary of her response.
“You’re kidding,” she states flatly.
“No.”
“So, what were you doing in his office tonight?”
“I told you.”
She huffs. “Unbelievable! You have the hottest guy I’ve ever seen totally into you, and you’re giving him back-off vibes.”
“No, I’m not.” Was that why he didn’t kiss me earlier?
“I know you, Sofie Reece. You’re afraid to let yourself fall for him.”
“No, I’m not! I mean... I told you, Emma Rae, I don’t trust him.”
“He appears a whole hell of a lot more trustworthy than Nick.”
“Yes, and we all know how that went,” I reply right back.
“You won’t even give him a chance,” she says. “You keep slamming the door in his face.”
“Emma Rae, you don’t know everything,” I assure her.
“No, I don’t. You’re right. But if I were in your shoes, I’d have already had my way with him.” At my exasperated sigh, she continues. “I know you go slower and are more cautious than I am, but you have to give him a chance. I’ve seen the way you watch him—Sofie, you are as gone on this man as he is on you. Stop—” she pauses “—stop being afraid to love. Stop being afraid that if you give someone your heart—they’ll leave you,” she expresses gently.
“You... you think that’s what I’m doing?” Am I afraid to love?
“Yeah, honey, I do.”
I take a deep breath. “Well, that—sucks.”
She laughs. “There’s hope for you yet.”
“Diane too?” I ask.
“Yeah, she thinks the same thing.”
I knew I wasn’t imagining the looks passing between them. “The man is full of himself,” I tell her.
“The man is hot,” she responds.
“He’s aggravating.”
“He’s hot!”
“He has a temper.”
“Of course he does. He’s hot!” I laugh. “Well, I’d better let you go so we can both get some sleep and dream about these hot men. All this training is tuckerin’ me out,” she confesses with a yawn. “Goodnight.”
“Night. Emma Rae?” I say before she can hang up.
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to a party in Springfield on Saturday night with Lucas.”
“What?” she exclaims.
“Niiight.” I’m smiling as I hang up. She calls right back, but I don’t answer. I snuggle down into my bed, and I think I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow.
The next day, work is busy and the day flies by. Bobbi is there. Murphy didn’t fire her, but he has her working the grocery side, keeping us apart. I’m glad he didn’t fire her. I know she needs her job.
At the training sessions, that night and the next, Lucas is a no show.
When we arrive at the arena Friday night, everyone is in high spirits in anticipation of the weekend off. Lucas is absent. Again.
I start to worry maybe he’s changed his mind about me going with him the next night. I hope he’d let me know and not just stand me up. The prospect of Lucas not showing is more painful than I want to admit. We sail through the night’s training, and afterward, Diane, Emma Rae, and I decide to hang for a while at the Shotgun Shack while the guys play poker. Diane drops me off around twelve thirty, and as I get out of her car, a couple of Lucas’ men make their presence known.
I wash my face before crawling into bed. I’ve just gotten the covers situated when the phone rings. I have a hunch it’s Sawyer again. “Yeeees,” I drawl.
“I didn’t ask the question yet,” a deep voice croons in my ear.
“Lucas,” I gasp. How can he make me feel his voice even over the phone?
“What are you doing?”
“Um... it’s one in the morning. I’m in bed.”
“Hmmm.” I bite my lip in reaction. “What are you wearing?” he asks.
My breath comes out in a rush of air, and my stomach gives a lurch. “That’s... none of your business.” I try to keep my breathing under control, even if I can’t control my heart rate.
“Whatever you sleep in, it can’t be anywhere near as sexy as my T-shirt.”
I almost moan thinking about being in his bed—in his arms. I grab my extra pillow and pull it up against my front, giving me something to hold on to. His laugh is low and seductive. I close my eyes and bite the pillow. We are both quiet for a moment.
“What are you calling for?” I ask, proud my voice sounds normal.
“I haven’t seen you in three days. I wanted to… touch base with you about tomorrow night.” So, he isn’t going to stand me up after all. I feel annoyed at my relief. “I’m not going to let you break our date,” he warns.
“It’s... not a date,” I reply, almost wishing it were. I wonder what a date with Lucas Santiago would be like. I bite my lip. Hard.
“That’s right. You made that stipulation, didn’t you?” His voice sounds peculiar. I don’t know what to say. “Tell me a secret,” he demands, his voice soft.
“What?” I’m not sure I heard him correctly.
“Tell me a secret,” he repeats.
“I’m not telling you a secret.”
“Why?”
“Because.” Because I don’t think I trust you. Because I saw something in your eyes one night that frightens me.
“You can’t think of a good reason, can you?” he accuses, his voice smug.
“You are so cocky,” I declare.
His laugh is low, making me shiver. “I trust you. Don’t you trust me?”
I softly snort. “You’re making fun of me now.”
“Sofie, I am not making fun of you.” He sounds sincere. “You don’t trust me, do you?”
I move my spare pillow back behind my shoulders. “Did... did you call to start a fight?”
“You call this fighting?” He sounds amused.
I ask, with a catch in my heart, “Are you hoping I’ll get angry and refuse to go tomorrow night?”
There’s a long silence. “There is no way—you are not going with me tomorrow night, my sweet.” His voice holds a dark calm.
My heart lurches when he call
s me my sweet. I relax at his words. I honestly do want to go with him.
“But I still want to know—do you trust me?” His voice is so damned erotic!
I start to say no, but then I think about how safe I felt when he held me as I slept the night I stayed with him. I remember how he cared for me when Cal knocked me unconscious. The idea of him touching me inappropriately hadn’t even occurred to me until Diane put that notion in my head. When he came to rescue me from Nick, I recall how happy I was to see him.
The silence is palpable. “I think so. About some things,” I answer honestly.
“About some things.” His chuckle is rich and deep and gives me goose bumps. “Well,” he says, “I’ll have to work on that, won’t I?” I feel an unexpected pleasure at his words. “Unfortunately, I’ll be gone most of tomorrow or I’d take you out to dinner. But knowing Maryanne, there will be hors d’oeuvres.”
“That’s okay,” I say, wondering who Maryanne is.
“Sofie—I think tomorrow night, we won’t use your real name.”
“Why?” I sit up straighter.
“If it were only Walter and Maryanne…” He pauses. “There may be people at this party I don’t know, and I think it’s for the best. I don’t want anyone looking for you later.”
Well, since I don’t either, I’ll just have to go along with him on this. “Why do you think someone would be interested in finding me?”
He doesn’t immediately answer. “Let’s just play it safe.”
I can do that. “Okay.”
“We need a name, easy to remember. What’s your middle name?” he asks.
“You’re going to call me Walker?” My voice chokes.
“Your middle name is Walker?” He laughs. “Sofia Walker Reece. Has a good ring to it,” he says, clearly amused.
“What’s your middle name?” I ask.
It’s his turn to choke. “Which one?” He laughs.
“You have two middle names?” When he doesn’t say anything, I ask, “What is your full name?” He’s silent, but I think I hear a faint chuckle. “I’ll just ask Max,” I tease.
“He’ll tell you,” he says wryly.