Settled back onto the sofa, she grabbed her wine glass again, and glared at him. “I’m really not in the mood for company, let alone a stranger.”
“How about you hold off on any more wine until I explain why I’m here?” He wrapped his hand around the rim of the glass, blocking her from taking another sip.
“Then you better get explaining because I have a bottle of wine to polish off before I pass out.” Her stomach roiled in protest of more liquor and her head pounded a warning tempo at her temple that she needed to sleep. “I might just have to call the police on you. First you invite yourself into my home, and now you’re taking away my one enjoyment tonight.”
“I want to say this only once and not have to go through it again when you’re sober.” He took the glass from her hand and set it aside before he lowered his duffle bag to the floor and sat beside her. “I’m here as your fiancé.”
“Fiancé?” With a raised eyebrow, she tried to suppress her giggling, but it was too much. She tipped her head back against the sofa and let the laughter burst through until tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’ve…you’ve got to be joking. Who put you up to this? Jenna?”
“Jase.”
The amusement died away at the mention of her brother’s name. Jase was the only one she kept in touch with in Crimson Hollow and mentioning him sent a wave of homesickness rushing through her. They had always been close, so much that their other brother had tried to drive a wedge between them. That wasn’t a memory she was interested in reliving at the moment, so she focused on trying to figure out Jase’s plan. What was he thinking? A fake fiancé—how was that going to help anything? The better question was, where did he get this guy? I’ll kill him if he put an ad online seeking a fiancé for me.
“He asked me to escort you home.”
“What the hell was he thinking?” she voiced aloud this time. “Granddad will never believe it.” She pulled her legs up against her chest, hugging them to her.
“It’s only a week. I’m certain we can make sure he doesn’t question things too much. Jase seems to believe we can make it work.” He dragged his hand through his thick hair, leaving finger tracks between ebony locks. “I’m under strict orders not to let you return without an escort.”
“Orders…” She looked at him and tried to see through the haze of alcohol in her system. “You’re not part of the tribe, otherwise this act of posing as my fiancé wouldn’t work. So what does my brother have on you? And don’t lie to me; you wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t offering you something. I know how persuasive he can be.”
“What does it matter? We’re both going to get something from this. You’re going to get your family off your back.” He glanced at the wine bottle sitting on the coffee table and back at her. “From the looks of it, you were dreading this visit.”
“Don’t you dare think you know anything about me!” She rose from the sofa, then swayed on her feet for a moment before catching her balance. “I live my life on my terms. I don’t have a man in my life at the moment because I’m very busy with my career. I shouldn’t have to justify my reasons to anyone, not even my family.” She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror above the fireplace. Her chestnut red hair stood wild and unruly as she had raked her hands through it multiple times over the last hour. Her face was flushed and dark circles were starting to form under her eyes. She was a mess and in a few hours she had to face her family. Fighting was no way to start the visit.
Just like lying wasn’t helping this situation—but she could barely admit this to herself while she was alone; she surely didn’t want to come clean to a stranger. Her career…that was just an excuse to explain why she hadn’t mated yet. Jase knew it as well as she did.
“Sinopa, I’m not judging you.” His tone remained soft and compassionate, as if he truly understood what she was going through. “Your reasons are your own. I’m only here at your brother’s request. If you wish to refuse…my company…than please feel free to call Jase and explain it to him, and I’ll leave.”
“Sin.”
“Excuse me?”
She plopped back down onto the sofa and met his gaze. “No one calls me Sinopa except Granddad. It’s just Sin.”
“Sin…that seems to fit you.” His lips curled up into a smirk. “So what are you going to do?”
“Kill Jase.” She meant it as a joke but images of her hands wrapped around her brother’s throat raced across her thoughts. “I don’t know what he was thinking, but I need to have a few words with him.” She grabbed her cell phone off the coffee table and pressed her brother’s number.
“I doubt he’s going to answer. He’d expect you to be upset and call him to bitch.”
She didn’t bother to reply, even as ring after ring echoed in her ear. Damn it, Jase. Pick up. The ringing continued until his voicemail activated. “Shit!” She hung up without leaving a message and tossed her cell phone onto the sofa.
“I told you.”
She glared at him and let the anger override the alcohol still coursing through her. She really didn’t care what kind of deal Jase made with Garret because it wasn’t going to happen. There was no chance she was going to show up at Crimson Hollow with a wolf by her side. Other wolves lived within the tribe, but they were not her type. Wolves were too high maintenance and their alpha personalities proved more than she could deal with. Was it too much to want a quiet life with someone who thought about her needs for once?
“So…” He folded his hands in his lap and watched her. “If we’re going to pull this off, we’ll need to get our story straight.”
“There’s nothing to pull off. I’m not going anywhere with you. Jase was out of his mind to even consider I would go for this.”
“Jase told me you’d say that and he told me I would need to say…” He paused as if he was trying to remember what the exact wording was. “Much has happened since you’ve left and there’s soon to be a new commander. Swift needs you, and so do I. Come home, Sin, and see what can be.”
“What the hell?” She sank down onto the arm of the chair across from him.
“There’s something more—not in his words, but the meaning is still the same. He’s sent me as your escort because until the changes are complete, he cannot guarantee your safety. It would be up to your Granddad and well, you know how that is.”
“You mean the fact he’s never done much to protect me.” Anger tightened every muscle in her body as she fought to leave the past where it was. “Oh yeah, I know all about that. Jase was the only one who stood up for me. If there’s to be a change of Chief for the tribe and Jase wants you to protect me, that means he’s about to take over. But Swift, how does she play into this?” She thought about the only true friend she’d ever had. They had been inseparable until Sin left their land.
“I wasn’t told that.” He leaned forward, his elbows resting on his thighs. “Your brother cares deeply for you. He wants you home, and he wants you safe.”
“I don’t understand his plan.” Once again, she took in the man before her and tried to figure out how he had become indebted to Jase in the first place.
“As your fiancé, I would be able to protect you, where Jase could not.”
“But if this was to be long term…if Jase is taking over the tribe and wants me to come home permanently, then this charade would only make a mess of things. We might marry like humans do, so that things are legal for the rest of the world, but when shifters find the one they’re supposed to be with, they mate. Anyone that got near us would be able to smell that we’ve not mated.”
“He’s thought of that as well.” He leaned back against the sofa and smirked. “A bite will mark you as mine, but will wear off without us completing the mating. You’ve spent so much time among the humans, it wouldn’t be considered unbelievable that you’d want to wait for the wedding night to complete the mating. It will also make sense that we’re still getting to know one another, as we met not long ago, and our wedding will be soon because our anima
ls will not wait long to be satisfied.”
“It seems that you and my brother have considered almost everything.” She glanced around her house, and while it might be small, it was hers. “But there’s one thing Jase didn’t consider. Maybe I don’t want to return to Crimson Hollow. That I won’t want to be under someone’s rule or deal with the crap I went through before. Out here among the humans and maybe against all odds, I’ve come into my own. I have a life, a good job, and my own home. I don’t want to go back to being the tribe’s outcast.”
“I don’t know what happened to you back then, but the choice will still be yours. You can return here and back to your life. This arrangement will at least allow you to be among your tribe for a short time while you consider what your options might be.”
She dragged a hand through her hair, pushing the reddish strands away from her face. “I need to think…I need a clear head before I make any decisions. The guest room is the second door on the right just down the hall. The bathroom is the first door on the right.” Without further comment, she strolled away from him and toward her bedroom. She needed a hot bath to clear her head and think things through. Leaving a stranger alone in her house wasn’t nearly as insane as going home with him as her fiancé.
Alone in the guest bedroom, Garret unlaced his boots and tossed them aside. Sinopa was nothing like he’d expected. The sexy as sin fox looked delicious even when she stumbled away from him drunk. Flecks of her temper had shined through tonight, making it clear that her fury was as fiery as her hair. She was going to be a challenge but one that he was up for, as long as it got him what he so desperately needed.
He unclipped his phone from his jeans and unlocked the screen to send a quick text message to Jase. Things are going as planned. I’ll let you know once we’re on our way. It wasn’t a complete lie. After all, she hadn’t kicked him out of her house.
He was there for one reason, and that was to get out of Jase’s debt. This was a small price to pay after what Jase had done for him months before. There weren’t nearly as many risks or danger now as there had been the last time they worked together. The only danger that concerned him was this attraction to Sin. He couldn’t afford to let himself get distracted by her.
One week—that was all he had to get through, and then everything would go back to the way things were. Surely, he could keep a lid on his attraction to her while pretending to be her fiancé.
Who am I kidding? She’s mine.
Preview: Different Sides
Murder? One call is all it takes to shatter Elise Dalton’s heart. Her father’s been murdered and the accused is none other than the man she had given her heart to. Though he’d cut himself out of her life years earlier, being the daughter to the chief of police, she has heard enough gossip to let her know that the choices he’s made have lead him down a path of self-destruction. He isn’t the same man she’d fallen in love with but a part of her doesn’t want to believe he could kill her father in cold blood.
Gun carrying, motorcycle riding, bad boy Flash Arquette has done some terrible shit in his life. He’s even taken the fall for someone, and every time he’s done the time for his crimes. This time, though, he’s innocent and no one’s listening to him. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks of him except Elise. She had to know the truth. He’s hurt her enough in the past, but he would never have done this to her. The only problem is the convincing evidence against him and his inability to give them proof of his innocence without breaking the contract he signed.
Their lives have taken opposing paths, but as the steel bars close around Flash, Elise realizes she’s lost him for good. The small ray of hope that he could change dies and the grief doubles. When those around Flash come forth with information that he’s been set up, she’s not sure she believes them, but she has to find out the truth. Nothing will bring her father back but she might be able to save Flash from death row.
Chapter One
Law and order had been drilled into Elise Dalton’s head since she was old enough to understand what it was. According to her father, being the daughter of the chief of police left her with a bigger responsibility. She was supposed to set an example. Live her life on the straight and narrow—and for the most part, she did. The only time she took the detour road was for the man she thought she’d spend her life with—Flash Arquette.
During the freshman year of high school, the Arquettes had moved down the block from her and shook up the once quiet, small town. Mr. Arquette was a drunk who thrived on trouble and violence. If he wasn’t causing a disturbance at the town’s only bar, he was at home beating his sons, Rocco and Flash. How many times had her father locked Mr. Arquette up? Each time, his sister, who lived a couple of towns over, would come and take care of the boys until he was released, only to have the cycle repeat itself within a few weeks.
Now, standing in the front yard of the house she grew up in, she glanced toward the old Arquette place. Twilight was quickly turning to dark, making it hard to see anything except the outline of the house. No one had lived there in years and in the day, the neglect was clear. Tall grass, weeds growing through the cement driveway and around the walkway, the broken window, and missing siding made it clear to anyone that it had been abandoned for years. Just glancing at it made her wonder why her father hadn’t done something all those years ago. Maybe if he could have locked Mr. Arquette up for longer than a few days, the boys would have had a fighting chance. Maybe their aunt would have taken them in and raised them right. If only her father had acted more on the situation, maybe he’d still be alive.
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks while inside, her temper raged. She wanted revenge but she could almost hear her father’s words in her ear. Let the justice system do what it’s intended to do. It takes time but it works. Did it really? If so, it would have saved the Arquette boys. It would have given Mrs. Arquette justice. And Flash…
“Ms. Dalton?”
Hearing her name spoken brought her out of the past. She glanced in the direction of the sound. A sleek black town car was parked at the end of the driveway but it was the man getting out who caught her attention. His sun-kissed skin and black wavy hair reminded her of someone she couldn’t place—though the perfectly tailored suit, and the fact he was being driven by a chauffeur, told her he didn’t belong there.
“Ms. Elise Dalton?”
“It’s a bad time. You’ll need to come back…” She wanted to say ‘never’ but she doubted that was an option. Whatever this man wanted, she didn’t have time for it. She had just come from the funeral home where she’d made plans for her father’s funeral. Right now, all she wanted was to be alone, not to deal with people. She took a step back toward the house, quickly finding her key.
“I only need a moment of your time.” His voice sounded closer, nearly right behind her, but she didn’t turn back to look.
“I don’t know who you are, but right now I don’t care. I’ve asked you to leave once and if you’re persistent I’ll have to call my fa…” Tears sprang to her eyes as she slid the key into the lock. Silently, she fought back the tears, refusing to cry in front of him.
“Elise—”
“I told you, now’s not a good time.” The door opened and she stepped into the doorframe, forcing herself to look at him. His brown gaze caught her attention and for a moment she thought she was looking into someone else’s eyes.
“Five minutes, that’s all I need.” Stepping closer, he placed his hand on the door, crowding her space.
“Fuck, man! Don’t you get it? I can’t do this now. I just…he’s…”
“I get it, but I have a message that can’t wait.”
The anger over this man’s persistence was quickly being replaced by fear. Something about a message made her want to reach into her bag for her gun. She wasn’t on duty so she hadn’t put her gun on her belt. Instead, she’d left it in her bag.
“Are you listening to me?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I don’t
want any trouble.” Her father was dead; why would anyone be after her? She had nothing to do with whatever he was investigating. They might have been in similar career fields but they didn’t discuss their work. They were both committed to their jobs, often bringing their work home with them, but it didn’t impact their time together. Hell, she hadn’t even been in town in over a week. I missed the last days of his life…
She watched the man’s lips move but her brain refused to focus until the last word. El. “What did you say? What did you call me?” Her knees went weak, forcing her to wobble and take a step back to regain her footing.
“You need to sit down. Let me help you inside.” He grabbed hold of her arm and she went stiff under his touch. “You don’t recognize me, do you? Shit, Elise, I thought you said you didn’t want any problems because you knew who I am.”
“Sir.” A bulky man in a dark suit came up the sidewalk toward the porch.
“Everything’s fine. Watch the house. I’m taking her inside.” Before she could argue, he swooped her into his arms and strolled into her house. He kicked the door shut behind him as he carried her toward the living room.
“Put me down,” she demanded, even though she wasn’t sure if she could stand. Her body felt as if it was liquid—nothing felt right.
He sat her down on the sofa and grabbed the patchwork quilt off the back, draping it around her shoulders. “I’m not surprised you still have this, but I am surprised you have it out. It must have driven your old man insane.”
“You know…” Her words faded as he leaned over and flicked the light on. For the first time, she was able to completely take in the man before her and her gaze fell on the jagged scar across his cheek. “No…it can’t be. Rocco?” Terrible thoughts crossed her mind as she realized Flash’s brother was in her house. She quickly wondered if he was there to kill her before she realized she hadn’t done anything wrong. She hadn’t been in town when her father was killed, so they couldn’t be concerned she’d been a witness to any of it.
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