by Debra Kayn
“She’s not ready to thrust herself into another relationship.” Garrett spit on the ground.
Kage nodded. “I know that too, but you’ll have to accept that there’s no way the two of us can live together and not have something happen between us. We’ve skirted around each other for the last seven years. I’m not running anymore, and I’m not letting her get away this time.”
“Fair enough.” Garrett inhaled deeply. “Now you can listen to me. When your mom overdosed—”
“We’re not talking about that.” Kage pushed off the car and moved toward the house.
“You owe me if you think you’re going in there and laying this on my sister’s shoulders. She’s not strong enough to deal with Carson and you,” Garrett said.
Through the years, Garrett had pushed Kage only twice to talk about what happened the night his mom died with a needle in her arm, the night his dad went to prison and his uncle escaped the Bay City area, leaving him all alone with a bad reputation. Both times he’d walked away.
He stopped but refused to turn around.
“If you have plans to seek vengeance, you’ll not only lose your spot at the agency, but I’ll walk away from our friendship and make sure Janie never has anything to do with you. She deserves better,” Garrett said. “You can fool everyone that you’ve moved on from the shit storm your family passed down to you, and most days I believe you have. But there are times like tonight and the other day when I broke the news about why Janie came home that I see what you’re capable of, and it makes me wonder how well I really know you.”
Kage’s knees buckled and he turned, widening his stance to hide how much Garrett’s words affected him. He wanted to deny everything his friend said, but Garrett expressed the fear he lived with every day when he woke up. Would today be the day he walked across the line?
“I think you’re strong enough to prove me wrong,” Garrett said. “I fucking hope you prove it to Janie. You’re the man she’s loved all these years.”
Kage lifted his chin, acknowledging that he heard Garrett loud and clear. Garrett looked at the house, and Kage waited for him to change his mind. He’d done everything in his power to earn Garrett’s trust, but Jane was his sister, and he understood why Garrett would protect her. They were the only family each other had left, and their bond was strong.
Garrett moved to the driver’s door, knocked on the top of the car twice in a sign he was done talking, and slipped inside. Kage watched him back out of the driveway and roar off, leaving a trail of dust along the gravel road.
He was stronger than Garrett believed. He had his reasons for not talking about that dark part of his life. His chest tightened.
He scanned the area, searching for anything out of the ordinary. A shadow, a noise. Even silence that would hint at Carson’s location. The asshole was close. He could almost sense him out there biding his time.
Kage slowly walked back toward the house to check on Jane. Garrett was right. He had to push away the past. Jane deserved more from him. But if Jane’s safety came into play, he’d use whatever secret and connection he had to keep her safe, and he wouldn’t regret a minute of it.
But he couldn’t taint her with his past. When he was twenty-one, despite Jane knowing her own mind at seventeen, he’d believed he was doing the right thing by pushing her away. Then he’d worked years building a career for himself, staying in partnership with Garrett and the other guys, for the sole purpose of being near her. Hoping that, someday, she’d see him for who he really was:
A man with an ugly past who rose above the path of crime his family had paved for him.
A man who’d wrapped Jane’s heart in the safety of his hands and now had made the decision to throw it away to keep her safe.
In the end, she’d see this move for what it was, the wrong direction. That was okay. She could end up hating him for the rest of her life, but she’d have a life.
Chapter Six
Kage’s house would never be the same. He leaned against the archway leading into the kitchen, watching Jane stir a bowl of some creation she just had to make tonight. After a trip to the grocery store after work—because Jane declared she couldn’t live off peanut-buttered toast and pretzels for two meals straight—he’d purchased enough groceries to feed three families.
She’d continued at a frantic pace, turning his kitchen into a world-class bakery, complete with a messy baker. He’d proceeded to stuff himself with samples as an excuse to hang out with her.
He found himself listening to her senseless babbling about how cowboy boots would never go out of style and if she won the lottery, she’d put a girls’ bathroom in at the garage. Stupid shit he didn’t even care about, but because it was important to her, he liked hearing her thoughts.
She moved with grace around the kitchen. As she did so, he shoved his hands in his front pockets, taking in the way she swept the stray strands of hair off her face. Every move she made was an erotic show. If he spent the rest of his life watching her, he’d always find something new to admire about the way she moved or tilted her head when she was concentrating on listening or the way her eyes narrowed when dirty filled her head.
Despite his feelings for her, he had no idea if she was ready to think about her future when her life was in danger. The emotional upheaval and the abuse she’d endured in the past meant he needed to step back and let her make the first move. The last thing he wanted was for her to misconstrue his feelings for her and think he acted on pity.
There were times she connected with him, and he was sure she understood where he was coming from. Then she’d retreat and deny she was feeling the same thing.
Yeah, he could practically read her mind at those times, and it infuriated her when she caught him grinning.
Although he’d done nothing physical tonight, his heart raced. His muscles were tense, and every time she passed him a treat, he got hard from the brush of her hand. If anyone could die from too much pleasure, he would’ve keeled over a half hour ago.
He sighed in contentment. The flour-covered counters, the handful of bowls he didn’t even know he owned, and the woman scurrying between projects gave him a lot to look forward to. He lifted his glass of water and drank. He’d have to put in an extra hour of weights every day for the rest of the week. “I think you’ve made enough for one night,” he offered.
Jane glanced at him over her shoulder. “One more batch of cookies, and then I have to clean up.”
“Leave it.” He pushed off the wall, walked toward her, and put his glass in the sink. “Come to bed.”
“I can’t.” She threw the oven mitt on the counter. “I also need to wait until the brownies cool before I cut them up, and make more frosting for the sheet cake”—she slapped his hands away—“because you ate half the container of pre-made frosting we bought.”
He studied her closely, and it finally dawned on him what the purpose of tonight’s marathon baking stint was all about. “You’re stalling.”
“I like to bake.” She reached around him and grabbed the dishtowel.
If she’d set out to stay busy to keep from going to bed with him, he could be patient. He had to admit he was a selfish man. He couldn’t wait to get her beside him, wrapped in his arms. The last thing he wanted was her crashing when she finally hit the sheets. In bed was the one place she let down her defenses and opened up to him. He had the old Janie back who trusted him.
He took that moment to wrap his arms around her.
“What are you doing?” She gazed up at him. “I’m covered in flour.”
“I need you to do something for me.”
She blinked at him. “What?”
“Stand still for thirty seconds.”
She opened her mouth. He put his finger on her lips. Being this close, holding her was almost too much.
He gazed into her eyes. “Thirty seconds.”
She tapped her foot against the floor. He kept her waiting, enjoying the way she squirmed against him.
; Then her body stilled. He lifted his hand and sank his fingers into her hair, walking her forward until she was pressed against the counter. He wasn’t going to allow her to escape him this time.
“Is that all you want me to do? Stand still?” she whispered.
“Not by a long shot.” He shook his head grinning. “I’m not going to wait until you kiss me, because you’re taking too damn long.”
“Oh.”
He captured her lips. His hand sank deeper into her hair, pulling her toward him with enough pressure that she rose up on tiptoes as he deepened the kiss. This was no time for teasing, his need for her too great. It had been a long time coming, and he wasn’t in the mood to mess around.
She leaned into him, grabbing the sides of his jeans. He stroked her tongue with his, tasting the sugary sweetness of all her baking mixed with the way he’d imagined she’d taste. No, better than he’d imagined.
He softened his mouth, slowed down, smiled through the kiss as her fingers dug into his sides and held on. He’d finally given her what she wanted seven years ago. Pulling her to him, he cupped her ass and supported her weight. The whole time he continued to stroke her, showing her what he wanted from her, she moaned. The verbal acceptance wrapped around him and he groaned his answer. Knowing he had to pace himself for her sake, but feeling he’d rather die than stop, he eased his head back and tucked her under his chin, holding her tight. His heart raced, and his balls ached.
“I wanted to do that for a long time,” he whispered.
“I tried, but you sent me away,” she whispered back.
He remembered. God, he remembered. “You were seventeen-year-old jailbait. I was twenty-one. I couldn’t go there. You know me.”
She leaned back. “Kage…”
“I want you in my life. I always have.” He inhaled, held his breath, and let it out when he stepped away. “Clean up, finish whatever it is you’re accomplishing here, and come to me.” He studied her.
She stood where he left her. He swiped his tongue over his bottom lip, still tasting her. Then he turned and strolled out of the room. Halfway down the hall, Bluff walked out of the spare bedroom. Kage picked her up and carried her with him.
“Better give her some space, cat. If the real Janie is still there, the kitchen’s going to be a dangerous place to be in a few—”
A clatter filled the house, followed by the oven door slamming shut and a frustrated squeal. He smiled and walked into the room. “Nailed that one.”
After he settled Bluff on the bed, he took his laptop to the chair in the corner, propped his feet on the end of the bed, and powered on. Garrett had Jane’s personal account forwarded to him through the agency’s computer, so they could keep an eye on any communication from her ex-boyfriend. He hoped to get an idea of Carson’s location through his Internet service provider.
An email message popped up and he clicked on it.
If I see you sleeping with that asshole again, you’ll owe me, sweetheart. Soon. S.
His feet went to the floor, and he tossed the laptop onto the bed, grabbing his phone off the dresser to call the hotline.
“Yo.” Lance answered.
“We’ve got a hot trail. Pull up Jane’s email account and trace the ISP and any other info you can find. Make a record of the email.” He stalked to the end table, turned out the light, then backed to the window. He peeled back the curtain and peered out into the darkness.
The floodlight from the old barn lit up the front yard. He scanned the road, the driveway, the vacant landscape.
The night was quiet, not even a shadow or a lone car coming down the lane. He focused in on the rhododendron bushes blocking the mailbox from the house. He should’ve cut them down months ago. The overgrown bushes were an eyesore but, more important, they were big enough to hide a small car.
“Got it. It’s a phone service through a local tower. Hang on again.” A series of beeps came over the phone.
Kage closed the drapes. “Put a call in to Garrett. I want backup.”
“Already done.” Lance cussed. “Okay, his phone’s untraceable. He’s using a prepaid throwaway.”
“Figures.” Kage picked up his gun off the dresser, shoved in into the back of his jeans. “I’m going out.”
“Jane?” Lance asked.
“Kitchen. Tell Garrett I’m setting the alarm and he should meet me outside.” He disconnected.
Kage slipped on his leather jacket as he made his way back into the kitchen. Jane turned, and he ducked as she threw a cookie in his direction.
“I know what you’re trying to do.” She glared. “It’s not going to work a second time.”
He shut off the kitchen light and walked toward her, knowing she’d be blind in the dark. Her surprise bought him a couple seconds of quiet.
“What are you—?”
He covered her mouth with his before releasing her quickly. “Quiet and listen. Can you do that?” When she nodded, he continued. “Scott contacted you by email, and there’s a good chance he’s found your location.”
“How do you know that?” She grabbed onto his jacket.
“From what he wrote in the email to you. Lance hacked into your information a few days ago and is directing everything from your inbox to my laptop.”
She gasped. He shushed her. “I’m going outside and taking a look around. I want you to follow the wall to your right and go into the living room. Do not turn on the lights. Understand?”
“Please don’t go outside,” she said. “You can’t leave me, I’m scared.”
“Listen to me. You’ll be fine. Once I’m out, you’ll set the alarm, and I’ll be within distance to hear it if it goes off,” he said. “I wouldn’t leave you if I thought there was any way for him to get in the house without me noticing.”
“I really need my gun back.”
He shook his head. “No gun. Go. Clear your throat when you reach the front door and unarm the alarm. Then count to ten and reset it.” He led her to the inside kitchen wall. “Then sit on the living room floor. Even if you hear anything, do not get up.”
She shuffled her feet, working her way around the kitchen. He took out his pistol. She hesitated in the archway. “Go.”
“Kage…be careful. You don’t know what he’s capable of.”
That’s where she was wrong. Kage knew exactly what Carson was capable of, and he’d do anything to make sure none of it touched Jane again. Kage had trained, experienced, and come out alive in more dangerous situations in his life. His chest tightened. But he’d never had Jane to protect before. He’d make damn sure they both survived.
“Kage?”
“Do what I tell you, Janie. Please.”
She followed his directions and went into the living room. A few seconds later, she cleared her throat. He headed to the back door, slipped outside, and listened for any noise.
The crickets chirped, a frog croaked intermittently from the spring that ran a hundred yards behind his house. He was thankful for any noise to cover his movements, knowing Carson wouldn’t recognize the sound of the night if it bit him in the ass. This was Kage’s territory.
He’d grown up in this house. Only during the time he spent with the Dentons had he been away. Even then, he’d always come here to find a connection to family when life got too heavy, even though he knew how messed up that seemed to others. His parents had lost the property, but he’d bought it back the minute he earned enough money for a down payment.
The house stayed vacant for years. Nobody wanted a known drug dealer’s house, let alone a place where someone overdosed and died. That was fine by him. Every day it reminded him of what he would not become. He was an Archer by birth, but he would not carry on that legacy.
Staying close to the building, his back to the wall, he scanned the perimeter. He planned to use the old barn to draw Carson away from the house, away from Jane, if he showed himself. He forged his way to the roadside to make sure Carson wasn’t using the bushes to hide in.
Whil
e he made his way across the yard, he listened.
The crickets continued their incessant chirps. He eyed the distance to the mailbox, cleared the area safe, and ran to the closest rhododendron. Creeping along the side, he rolled around to the front, his pistol raised.
Nothing.
The area was clear.
Dammit. He sensed movement coming from his left, stilled, then relaxed at the familiar whistle.
Garrett approached him. “All clear for the quarter of a mile leading to the house.”
“There’s no sign that anyone’s been here recently.” Kage lifted his chin. “Barn.”
With unspoken understanding, they separated, each going in a different direction. Since he knew the lay of the barn, Kage entered, knowing Garrett had his back.
Ten minutes later, he left the barn through the front double doors, swinging them wide open. He’d hear if anyone closed them later.
Garrett slipped his gun into his holster. “We’ll get him.”
“Not soon enough.” Anxious to get back to Jane, he walked toward the house with Garrett at his side.
“How’s Jane doing?” Garrett asked.
“The email shook her. Before that happened, she seemed to be acclimating pretty well.” He saw no reason to share with Garrett the way she’d kissed him. “Every time I think of what she must’ve gone through…”
“I know.”
He blew out a breath. “When we catch this bastard, I want ten minutes with him.”
“Kage—”
“I’m not asking.” He looked at Garrett. “I’ll walk away from the agency afterward if that’s what it comes down to but I’m taking my ten minutes, and that’s still letting him off too easily.”
Garrett nodded, putting a hand to his friend’s shoulder. Kage peered up into the sky. He was tense and angry and he couldn’t walk into the house in that condition. Jane had gone through enough.
“I’m sending Tony out in the field tomorrow morning. He’ll find him.” Garrett moved away. “I’ll let him know the latest.”