“I’ll handle it. Until I locate him, can one of you keep eyes on Rebecca? I need one man at her house and one at her office. I’ll pull up the last known address for Michael Hale and track this mother-fucker down. He knows where Rebecca lives, and I’m not wasting another minute finding out what he’s going to do next.”
“We’re on it,” Christopher said. “Send me the address of her office building, and I’ll head over there right now.”
“I’ll watch the house,” Brent added, his voice cold. He’d sworn to protect his sister and failed, and Patrick knew he wouldn’t let this guy so much as touch a hair on Rebecca’s head.
“Are you letting Rebecca know about this?” Christopher asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Negative. I don’t want her to be concerned. After we confront this guy and ensure he doesn’t come near her again, I’ll let her know that we’ve handled it. In the meantime, keep it on the down low.”
“Roger that,” Brent muttered, grabbing his keys.
“What is it?” Patrick asked, eyeing Mike. Although Mike hadn’t said a word during the entire exchange, he’d been listening to the conversation, a pensive look on his face.
“Do you really think that’s wise?”
“What?”
“Leaving her out of the loop like that.”
“Fuck,” Patrick spat out. “I don’t need Rebecca chasing after this guy. She’d probably have his lawyer on the phone in less than a minute and chew him out for letting his client behave this way. All Michael Hale needs is a call from his attorney—this guy is pissed off at lawyers. He sure as shit isn’t going to listen to one of them.”
“For her own safety then,” Mike pressed.
“Let me deal with it my way,” Patrick said, his voice low. “I’ll fill her in when this is over, but I don’t want Rebecca unnecessarily worried about this.”
Mike glared at him as the two men faced off, but since Rebecca was Patrick’s responsibility and not Mike’s, he stood down.
Relaying the necessary addresses and information to Christopher and Brent, Patrick did a quick search of public records, locating the last known address for Hale. He had a bad feeling that the only person he’d find there would be the guy’s ex-wife, but maybe she’d know how to find him. If not, he had other ways of tracking him down. He was certain that this guy would show up at Rebecca’s again, and this time, he or one of his men would be there to greet him.
Chapter 16
Rebecca was surprised when Patrick called asking if she and Abby wanted to join Logan and him for dinner that night. Didn’t men have a thing about waiting a few days after a date to call? Technically, she supposed it had been three days since Friday night, but they’d spent Saturday morning together at the hotel.
The rest of the weekend had been a whirlwind, and between catching up on things at the office and enjoying lunch with Alison earlier, she was feeling rather behind at the moment. She still had to pick up Abby from school and get through some paperwork that evening. Not that she’d considered turning him down. She’d even offered to cook for Patrick and Logan, telling him about the tacos she’d planned to make that night, but he’d insisted on taking them out.
“Hi!” she called out happily when she spotted Patrick and his son seated at a table in the corner of the restaurant they’d chosen. Logan was playing a game on Patrick’s smart phone and didn’t look up, but Patrick stood in greeting.
“Hi,” Patrick replied, glancing down at her with warmth in his normally cool blue eyes. She wanted to give him a hug or kiss but felt awkward with the children right there. He made no move to touch her either, and she felt a brief wave of disappointment wash over her. She’d just been thinking earlier today that she didn’t want to confuse Abby or Logan, and here she was already changing her mind.
It was unusual to spend a night with a man and then act as if you were just friends the next time you saw him, she realized with chagrin. Being so close to Patrick yet simultaneously so far away was harder than she thought. She’d just have to make the best of it, because this was likely how things would be between them for the time being. Unless she wanted to explain to Abby and Logan all about relationships and dating, which she certainly didn’t at this stage of the game.
“What’s he playing?” Abby asked, climbing onto the chair beside Logan. That left Rebecca little choice but to slide into the booth next to Patrick. She could feel the warmth and heat radiating off his large frame as he sat beside her. He stretched one long arm onto the booth behind her, careful not to touch her, and smiled.
“I had a great time this weekend,” he said in a low voice.
Fortunately Abby and Logan were both distracted for the time being, so Rebecca took a moment to smile up at him. He was wearing that cologne she loved, and briefly, she imagined the scent of him all over her skin again. Imagined his mouth moving over her body, his tongue trailing lines over her skin. She couldn’t even fathom the next time they’d spend the night together at this point. It’s not like she could send Abby off to her grandparents’ every weekend, nor could Patrick do the same with Logan.
“So did I.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t enjoy another quiet dinner alone just yet, but it’s pretty hard to date when you have a young child, as I’m sure you’re aware.”
“Well, it’s kind of new territory to me,” Rebecca admitted.
Patrick raised his eyebrows.
“I mean, since my husband passed away, I haven’t, uh, been with anyone.”
Understanding flashed over his face. He reached for her hand beneath the table and squeezed it gently, his thick fingers weaving between her own smaller ones. “I guess I’m lucky you made an exception for me.”
“Funny, I kind of feel like the lucky one,” she said.
He let go of her hand and rested his on her bare thigh, letting it slide just under the hem of the sundress she’d worn. His large, warm hand against her bare skin had heat licking through her and arousal already pooling in her center. As she tried to divert her attention elsewhere, to concentrate on the kids or anything else, he began lightly tracing his fingers over her skin in lazy circles until she shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She met his heated gaze, and a flush spread across her face. Fortunately the waiter walked over then, handing out their menus.
Patrick removed his hand but bent down to whisper into her ear. “I love watching the heat bloom over your skin.”
She only blushed more, and he chuckled quietly beside her. Why she always reacted like a schoolgirl around Patrick was beyond her comprehension, but something about the way he teased her always had her blushing in a way no man had ever managed before.
“Mommy, I saw a spider,” Abby said.
“Where?” Rebecca asked, looking around in confusion.
“On the playground today,” she said matter-of-factly.
While Abby and Logan went on to discuss the spider, Rebecca laughed to herself. Her daughter was forever bringing up things that had happened hours or days before, seeming unconcerned when Rebecca had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.
“Anyway,” Patrick continued after the waiter had taken their order, “I hope this restaurant was okay for you and Abby.”
“Are you kidding? This is one of Abby’s favorite places.”
“Same with Logan. I guess they know how to appeal to the kids.”
“I have to admit, I was surprised to hear from you so soon.”
Patrick laughed. “I would say then you’ve been dating the wrong men, but it sounds like that isn’t the case.”
“I dated my fair share of players before I met my husband. But don’t get me wrong, I was happy you called.”
“You’ll always know where you stand with me,” he said, his eyes blazing.
With as straightforward as Patrick had been, that didn’t surprise her. He didn’t play games, didn’t mince words. He was matter-of-fact, from teasing her the first day they met to telling her exactly how their night at the hotel would
A few minutes later the waiter brought over their dinner. As Rebecca helped Abby get her food in order, Patrick took his phone back from Logan. He briefly thumbed through his text messages and frowned.
“Is everything okay?” Rebecca asked, seeing his expression.
“Yeah, it’s just a message from one of the guys on my team.”
He set his phone down without further comment, leaving it face up to see any new incoming messages, and they dug into their meals. Rebecca bit into her cheeseburger, thinking that between this and her Italian lunch earlier, she’d have about a million calories to work off. A walk down the boardwalk later on with the kids might be nice, and she almost mentioned it to Patrick when Abby spoke.
“Mommy, when is that man coming back?”
Rebecca’s blood ran cold as she stared at her daughter, a shiver snaking down her spine. “What man, sweetie?” she asked as calmly as she could, frozen in her seat. Her heart raced and blood pressure skyrocketed, giving her a strange sensation of thumping in her eardrums.
“He was there last week, in the yard. Remember when we were playing catch and I ran to get the ball?”
“Yes, I remember,” Rebecca said, her voice shaking.
“Abby, what did the man say?” Patrick asked calmly. Rebecca knew he was trying not to scare her daughter, but she noticed the way he’d clenched his fists in anger as he waited for her response. He was reigning himself in, trying not to frighten them, but Rebecca was even more scared by his reaction, because she knew that her worry was not just in her head.
“He just wanted to know if you were my mommy. I told him we were playing, and he said he’d be back.”
Rebecca’s mouth dropped open, and she looked over at Patrick in a panic.
“I’ll take care of this tonight,” he said in a low voice.
“What? How?”
“You’re just going to have to trust me.”
“Are you mad, Mommy?” Abby asked, tears filling her eyes.
“Abby, honey, you know you’re not supposed to talk to strangers. And if someone ever talks to you again, you need to tell me or another grown-up immediately.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, a tear falling down her cheek.
Rebecca rose from the table and engulfed her daughter in a big hug. “I’m not mad, but you have to promise to let me know the next time something like that happens. You never ever talk to strangers.”
“I promise,” Abby whispered.
Rebecca met Patrick’s gaze, and she nervously swallowed. His face was set in stone, but she could tell his mind was working, calculating, analyzing this new information from every angle. He knew something, but she wasn’t sure exactly what. There was no sense in further upsetting the children and discussing it anymore at the table, but a feeling of dread washed over her. Whoever had spoken to Abby had most likely been the mystery driver of the SUV—and they’d be back. Although Patrick had scared them off Friday night, she wasn’t sure if that was enough to keep them away forever. She certainly wouldn’t let Abby out of her sight until the situation has been resolved.
Rebecca returned to her seat but found that she’d lost her appetite. When Patrick picked up the check, she was too upset to even argue with him about his paying for it. She’d treat him and Logan another time, but for the moment, she just wanted to get home, lock all her doors, and tuck Abby into bed, ensuring no one could harm her.
Patrick sensed her unease, and he took her hand as they exited the restaurant. He walked Rebecca and Abby to their car and turned Rebecca to face him as Abby climbed into her car seat. Logan hopped up and down at his father’s side, filled with the type of energy reserved only for six-year-old boys. He remained blissfully unaware of the fear surging through her, and a single tear slipped down her cheek. Patrick wiped it away with his thumb.
“I’ll never let anything happen to you or Abby.”
“We don’t know who it is,” Rebecca whispered, “or how to stop him. How can I watch out for an enemy I didn’t even know that I had?”
“I’m going to get to the bottom of this,” Patrick assured her. “Until then, I’ll have one of my men watch your house at night. Or I’ll be there myself.”
“What? That’s crazy. They’d never agree to that—I don’t even know them.”
“They already have.”
“But why?”
“Because we’re like brothers—like family. If someone that I care for is in danger, then you can bet that the guys on my SEAL team are behind me one hundred percent. It’s not even a question.”
“I don’t know,” Rebecca said, shaking her head. “It’s a lot to ask of them.”
“I’d do it for any of them if someone they loved was in danger.”
Rebecca startled, looking up at him in confusion. “Someone you….”
“I know it’s early, and we’ve only known each other a few short weeks, but I’m falling in love with you, Rebecca.” He bent down and kissed her softly, his lips gently caressing her own. “I swear that I’ll protect you,” he vowed.
Abby began whining from inside of the car, and Rebecca pulled back, feeling chagrined that she couldn’t share her feelings for him right now, too. This was hardly the time or the place, despite his own admission of how much he cared for her. Hopefully he could read the expression on her face and know that she, too, was falling in love with him.
She wiped the tears from her eyes and buckled her daughter into her car seat, wishing more than anything that she didn’t have to go right now. She wasn’t sure what it was Patrick intended to do tonight, and she was almost afraid to ask.
“Drive safely,” he said quietly, closing the door behind her after she’d climbed into her car. “I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Okay.”
She backed out of the parking space, watching Patrick stand there with his son in her rear-view-mirror before she left. As she drove away, she couldn’t help but feel like she’d left a little piece of her heart there with him.
Chapter 17
Patrick pulled up to an apartment building the next morning, the address scrawled down on a piece of paper he gripped tightly in his hand. Christopher had worked his magic last night, locating the current whereabouts of one Michael Hale. It had been easy enough for Christopher to hack into the records at the courthouse, pulling up his contact information. While not technically legal, Christopher was a computer whiz, and Patrick knew Christopher wouldn’t feel guilty about retrieving the information when it meant protecting the woman he was falling in love with.
Hell. He’d hardly been able to admit it to himself earlier in the week, and last night he’d confessed his feelings to Rebecca. He’d sworn that he wouldn’t let himself grow attached to a woman ever again, but it was getting harder and harder to find reasons to stay away from Rebecca. Each time he saw her, he wanted to learn more. Every time he kissed her, he wanted to bury himself so deeply inside her that they’d both forget their own names.
Brent had been there last night, watching Rebecca’s house from afar. There’d been no sign of Hale or the silver SUV, and he hoped that after a little confrontation with the coward this morning, they could all get on with their lives. That Rebecca could live without worry. He’d put the man in his place and let him know in no uncertain terms that he was to steer clear of both Rebecca and her daughter. What they both meant to him, he didn’t want to examine too closely at this point. But one thing was for certain—he’d do anything to protect them.
Patrick exited his SUV, his concealed weapon holstered securely. A man who had no qualms about stalking a woman would likely feel threatened enough by Patrick showing up at his home without the need for a firearm, but Patrick wasn’t taking any chances. You never knew what someone would do in a stressful situation. Hale was clearly on edge about whatever had happened in the court hearing, upset enough to show up at Rebecca’s home. Someone that far gone could react violently, desperately, and years of military training had taught Patrick to be fully prepared for any situation. He didn’t know what he’d be walking into, which meant that he had to be nothing less than fully prepared. Hope for the best but assume the worst.
Christopher was waiting in a separate vehicle down the street, just in case Patrick had need for backup. His other men were listening in, and if everything had proceeded accordingly, Brent should still be at Rebecca’s and Matthew at her office. Unfortunately, he’d had to bring his CO into the loop, insisting that Rebecca needed their protection. Brent and the other men had backed him up one hundred percent, and it was with his full knowledge of the situation that they’d put their plan into action this morning. Patrick knew that he wanted to confront Hale alone, though. He’d seen Patrick before and had been rightfully scared off then, and Patrick had a feeling the man would be intimidated similarly again.
He quietly walked up the stairs of the open, garden-style apartment building, thankful no one else was around at the moment. It was early, and most people were probably still just waking up, getting ready for their day. Which made his job of surprising Hale all the easier. With any luck, he’d still be sound asleep in bed—with an early morning wake-up call from Patrick to kick-off his day.
Approaching the door of the end unit, he knocked firmly. Patrick heard no movement inside—no rustle of someone shuffling behind the door, no footsteps, and no sounds from a radio or television. He knocked louder and paused for a moment, listening. There was nothing but silence. Two newspapers lying on the doormat had him wondering the last time Hale had even been home. In all likelihood, there really was no one inside the apartment.
“Damn it,” he muttered to himself. He spoke quietly into his mouthpiece to update Christopher, and heard his response through his ear bud. There were no signs of anything unusual in the parking lot of the apartment building or out on the street, so they either hadn’t arrived early enough or Hale hadn’t returned home last night.
The door to the next apartment opened, and Patrick glanced up in surprise. A young woman stepped out, looking alarmed to see him. He offered a reassuring smile and tried speaking to her in his gentlest tone, asking if she happened to know Hale’s whereabouts. She hesitated a moment, seeming unsure if she should even speak to him. When he asked again, saying he just was checking in on a friend, she finally admitted that she hadn’t seen him since the weekend. Which meant there was no telling where he’d been the past couple of days.
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