first, and as he came in the room, the weariness on his face troubled her.
"How's your uncle?"
He put a hand on both women's shoulders. "The same."
Disappointment drew more lines in Josy's face. "I'm going back to his room. Why
don't you two go home and get some rest?"
"No way," Shane said. "I'm not leaving here until he wakes up. We can camp out in
the waiting room."
Josy smiled feebly and stood. She embraced her nephew. Tears came to Emma as
she watched Shane hold his aunt. Love shone in his eyes for his aunt, deep and abiding.
Witnessing his deep affection for another human stirred a primitive, genuine ache in
her heart, a longing she feared would always remain with her when she left Gambit
Creek. After the brief hug, Josy left the room. Shane hung his head for a moment, his
hands on his hips. His eyes closed and she wondered if he fought back tears of his own.
Unable to stand the sight of him in emotional pain, she went to him, placing gentle
fingers on his shoulder. "Shane?"
He opened his eyes and then he smiled. She was relieved to see tension loosen from
his stance. "I'm sorry you've been dragged into this." He took her hand and clasped it
as they moved out of the cafeteria. "Come on. Let's find a comfortable couch in the
waiting room. It's going to be a long night."
* * * * *
"You screwed it up," the One said to his companion in the room. "Royally hosed
up. And damn it, you've got to stop coming here. Someone is going to see you and
think something is fishy."
The short man moved from the shadowy corner of the room into the arc of light
thrown off by the overhead lamp. His expression jumped from disgruntled to worried.
"What if Clement wakes up and can tell them who ran him off the road?"
The One shrugged. "At this point I'm not sure if it's such a bad thing if he does
wake up and tell what he saw. If you'd done a better job and killed him when you had
the chance none of this would be happening. Maybe you deserve to go down. I told you
it wasn't safe to shed your human shell at any time, didn't I? Now this whole thing is in
jeopardy."
"I don't understand what difference it makes. It's not like any of these weakling
humans can do anything about us. Certainly not this two-bit, washed-up agent
O'Donnell."
The One glared. "Don't underestimate SIA agents. They may be human—most of
them—but they aren't stupid. Every one is highly trained and tested for mental
stability, strength and endurance. Some of them even have special powers."
Surprise rippled over the short man's face. "You never told me that."
The One sneered. "Don't get mouthy with me. I can expose you to the humans. I
can make you wish you'd never ventured from the Shadow Realm to help me."
"Are you saying Shane O'Donnell has special powers?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
Silence reined for a minute, and all the One could hear was the short man's deeper
breaths, his discomfort and confusion evident.
The shorter man's lips twitched with annoyance and his fingers clenched into fists.
"I was going to get out of the car and finish the job on Clement O'Donnell. But a car
drove up shortly after Clement went off the road. If I'd have stayed there and the
witness saw me—"
"You would have bluffed your way through it. It's one of the reasons I took you
from the Shadow Realm and helped you take over that pathetic human's body. You lie
so well it's pitiable."
Gritting his teeth, the shorter man kept his temper. Just barely. "We've got to finish
it as soon as possible. If the treasure isn't found soon that damn woman archaeologist
will discover it."
Annoyed, the One wandered to the window of his hotel room and looked at the
bustle of the main drag in Gambit Creek. The stupid cretin didn't understand, did he?
Didn't realize so much more was at stake than treasure and wealth.
"If you keep your mouth shut and do as you're told, we will have what we want
and more."
"We just need to find the treasure—"
"I don't need to do anything. You need to find a way to put a stop to this crap right
now. Put them out of my misery, and do it quickly."
* * * * *
Emma woke from a restless sleep on the uncomfortable couch in the waiting room.
Slowly she sat upright and realized she leaned against Shane and that his arm lay firmly
around her shoulders. He sat in a sprawl, his legs apart, his right arm dangling off the
edge of the couch, and his head tilted back onto the vinyl seat. His jaw looked darker,
rough without a shave. He'd pulled the tie out of his hair some time ago. She almost
brushed her hands through his heavy hair and along that morning beard. Instead, she
contemplated a trip to the cafeteria. Her stomach rolled with hunger. Last night's feast
had consisted of a quick candy bar. Neither Shane nor Josy had eaten a thing and she
didn't blame them. If it were her uncle…or her husband…
A vision of Shane popped into her mind. Oh, no. She shouldn't, couldn't think of
him that way. She couldn't admit that in her daydreams she thought of Shane as more
than a friend. Curiosity burned a hole in her. She wished Josy had revealed more about
Shane in the cafeteria last night. Had Shane actually done something so brutal in his
past that now he couldn't abide the thought of violence?
All through the night they had waited for word on Clement's condition. Nothing
had changed. Silently she sent up a prayer that Clement would wake soon.
Officer Mick Johnson had stopped by late that evening to quiz them about what
had happened to Clement. Emma also discussed the possibility of submitting a missing
persons on Grant, but not enough time had passed to consider Grant a missing person.
His absence looked suspicious to the police department, according to Officer Johnson.
Looking around the sterile walls of the hospital, she moved a couple of inches and
Shane awoke. He pulled his arm from around her and blinked into the bright lights
overhead.
Bleary-eyed, he passed a hand over his face. "What time is it?"
"Six."
He groaned and stood, stretching his muscled arms high above him. "What a night.
I dreamed I was at your excavation and that a giant treasure chest was trying to grab
me and pull me down into the pit."
His levity took her off-guard and she chuckled. His returning grin warmed her
heart. Josy came into the room shortly thereafter and the three discussed whether to
head for the cafeteria for coffee and breakfast.
A doctor walked into the room and Emma recognized him from earlier that
morning when she'd headed down the hall to the rest room. He nodded and smiled at
the three of them.
"Mrs. O'Donnell, there's an excellent change in your husband's condition. He's
awake and asking for you."
Josy let out a squeak of delight and hugged both Shane and Emma.
* * * * *
"I don't even remember that part of yesterday," Clement said to Josy, Shane and
Emma, his craggy features sharpening with concentration. "All I remember is waking
up yesterday morning and having breakfast. Then I went out to check on some cattle.
After that everything is a blur."
> Emma, Shane and Josy surrounded his bed and Officer Johnson jotted down notes.
Clement's cheeks had returned to their healthy rosy shade. Emma's relief, though,
didn't extend too far.
The "accidents" were getting more threatening by the minute. First, the attack on
her and now Clement's car wreck. Fear crawled along her skin like the tiny steps of a
million ants. She shivered in the cool hospital room.
"The doctor said it might be some time before that part of your memory returns. If
ever," Shane said.
Josy touched her husband's hand gently. "Don't tire yourself."
Clement smiled at his wife. "Now don't you worry about me. It's the rest of you I'm
concerned about."
The young officer stopped writing in his notebook and looked at Clement, then
Shane. "Is there something here I should know?"
"Ask the police chief," Shane said. "He has the pertinent details to fill you in. In the
meantime, I want someone to stay with my uncle and aunt at all times."
Clement's expression turned grim. "Shane, take care. These characters mean
business." He reached for Josy's hand. "And don't you think of leaving this room. I'm
not letting you out of my sight."
Josy frowned. "Why would I think of leaving you, old man? Look what kind of
trouble you get into the minute I let you out of my sight."
They all laughed and Shane said, "You listen to her."
Clement shifted on the hospital bed and glanced at Officer Johnson. "I want to tell
you more, but I can't remember a damned thing."
"Don't you think that's enough questions for now?" Shane asked.
The officer glanced at Shane's towering presence almost nervously then returned to
scribbling on his notepad. "All of it is necessary."
"Give Johnson a break," Clement said. "He's trying to do his job."
"Humph." Shane looked at Emma and then at his aunt and uncle. "I can see you're
in good hands. I'm taking Emma back to the house."
On the road back to the ranch house, Shane stayed silent. He stared with stony-
faced concentration at the road in front of him. This time he drove slowly.
When they arrived at the ranch, Charlie jumped on them enthusiastically. Emma
found she liked having the dog around. The animal's cheerful, loving presence eased
her a little. Shane put Charlie outside so she could take a good run. Emma stood in the
living room, a little weary from half dozing during the night in awkward positions on
the hard emergency room couches. She stretched and yawned.
Shane turned to Emma, a vulnerable light in his eyes. "Tired?"
She smiled. "Strangely wired. I don't think I could sleep right now."
Right here, right now, Emma wanted to tell him everything would turn out fine. Yet
fear of the unknown ate away at her confidence. Deep inside she worried something
bad would happen. This time it would be something far worse than the attack on her,
Grant's disappearance or the attempt on Clement's life.
She headed down the hall. "I think I'll grab a quick shower."
He didn't answer, but she kept walking, half-afraid that if she turned she'd see his
assessing gaze on her and she wouldn't leave.
She entered his bedroom and closed the door. She leaned against it, almost certain
she would hear his footsteps outside. When she did, her breath caught. He passed her
door and went on to his room. The door shut to the master suite, and she released a
breath.
God, Emma. What do you think is going to happen?
She didn't know, but the tension between them hovered, taut as a drum and as
ready to break as anything she'd felt before. After taking a quick shower, she slipped
into the heavy, too big terry robe he'd given her. She rolled the sleeves up. When she
walked back into the bedroom and stood in the middle of the room in a sort of daze, she
heard him moving around in the next room.
Something crashed in his room, and she jumped. Oh, no. What—?
Without much thought, she opened her door and rushed to his room. She knocked
on the door, concerned. "Shane? Everything all right?"
He opened the door almost immediately. She didn't expect what she saw, and what
she saw about knocked her back on her heels. Water clung to the tips of his long hair,
beaded up and fell onto his chest. Her gaze snagged on that droplet as it wound its way
over his upper chest then down over his muscled pec. The dark dusting of hair over his
chest looked damp. Damn, she hadn't forgotten how gorgeous he was, but this raw,
primal reminder sent thrills so strong through her she felt her heart skip. Sure, she'd
spied his naked chest the other day, but this time his masculinity seemed stark, a
harshly male intrusion into her femininity she couldn't avoid. It stirred her desires,
stoked a fire building between them for days. He wore nothing but navy sweat pants.
She managed to look into his eyes. An answering fire blazed in his expression.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. I just dropped a glass in the sink."
She frowned. "You didn't cut yourself?"
One corner of his mouth twitched upward. "No. I'm fine."
He looked hungry. His gaze burned down on her, beseeching her for something.
Understanding? Comfort?
"Do you want to talk about today? About what's happened?" she asked.
He turned and walked into his room, and she followed. "Everything is bothering
me right now. I don't have a handle on this situation. I've never been this out of
control."
"You're not still blaming yourself for what happened to your uncle?"
"If I had refused this assignment, maybe none of you would be in danger."
Emma moved closer to him. "That's ridiculous. You've been there for me when I
needed you and when I was in danger." She sighed ruefully. "You had to accept the
assignment in order to catch whoever is trying to get Sadie's treasure, right?"
Doubt clouded his gaze. When he didn't speak, she thought of what Josy had said
about Shane's experiences as a child. "Josy told me about your experiences growing
up."
His eyes hardened. "She did what?"
"I'm sure she wouldn't have said anything, but she was tired and worried about
Clement. She didn't mean to betray a confidence. She's concerned about you."
He pushed a hand through his tousled hair, and she realized in a nonsensical
moment of reflection that she hadn't seen him in his cowboy hat today. No matter. The
man defined gorgeous no matter how he wrapped the package.
Slowly he walked to the bed and sat down. "My father was an abusive bastard."
Perhaps this was it. This was one reason she felt a tight connection with Shane. She
certainly understood kicks. Punches. Harsh recrimination and vicious feelings.
"One night changed everything in my life," he said. "I'd just turned nineteen and
decided to go to college instead of staying to work on the ranch. I'd already spent two
extra years of my life here. I wanted some freedom."
"Adventure?"
"Exactly. My mother was on my side and defended me. Father hauled off and hit
her across the face. It wasn't the first time he hit her. I'd watched him hurt her for years.
I was a fucking coward for not doing anything about it before that night."
"Oh, my God," she gasped, putting her hand to her mou
th. "No, Shane. You were a
boy. What could you do?"
His laugh was self-deprecating. "I could have called the cops before. Could have
stopped watching my father hurt my mother."
"Did he hit you too?"
"Believe it or not, no. He threatened more than once, but he never did. That one
night was different though. Way different. I couldn't take what he'd been doing to my
mother all those years."
Tension rose inside her, but she stayed back from him, waiting for the story to
unfold completely.
He closed his eyes. "I grabbed him and slammed him against the wall and told him
if he ever touched her again, I'd kill him." He opened his eyes and clenched his fists at
his side. "I can't stand to see a woman mistreated. That's why when Grant shoved you I
came unglued." He sighed. "As it turned out, Dad never got another chance to hurt her.
We left the house the next day and stayed with Uncle Clement and Aunt Josy. My
mother filed for divorce and moved to New York where her sister lives. She begged me
to come with her. But I wanted to go to college, not move to New York. I stayed
through the summer with my uncle and aunt then left for college."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He scooted up on the bed, lay back and
stared at the ceiling. When he stretched his arms above his head, his biceps showed
carved, finely honed musculature to perfection. "More than that, I wanted to leave the
hypocrisy behind. My father said he wanted to turn me into a law-abiding citizen and
that I'd turned into a criminal. I knew he was in the business of stealing relics. When the
opportunity came along to join the agency, it wasn't adventure that pushed me to join. I
wanted revenge for what he'd done to my mother. To me. Maybe I'd even get the
chance to slap the cuffs on him."
The vehemence in his tone didn't surprise her. She couldn't blame him for the way
he felt.
She crawled up onto the bed next to him and sat there, her heart growing soft with
emotions that begged for fulfillment. The Shane O'Donnell she'd met originally showed
a tougher face, more certain, less in need of understanding. He'd experienced much in
the past two days and so had she. And although they'd been forced into each other's
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