Guardian Angel

by Lise Fuller

  The corners of his mouth twitched.

  The movement shook Marie out of her lust-ridden state. “I-I’m fine.” Marie attempted to sit but Jake slid his arms around her and pulled her to him.

  “Look at me a second.”

  She swallowed to calm her jitters as Jake peered into her pupils. He held her head with one hand and put the thumb of his other on her temple then turned her head a few inches. “They’re not dilated.” He eased his arms behind her. “You sure you’re okay?”

  Marie nodded.

  He stood and pulled her up with him. His palms rested on the small of her back. “You’ll need to come with me to fill out a complaint.”

  “I don’t want to. I want to be left alone.” Panic set in. She pushed against his chest but he didn’t budge.

  Jake’s eyes narrowed. “Marie, I’m not going to ask you why you won’t come to the station. Just like I’m not going to ask you about the bullet hole in your car window, but you can’t stay here.”

  “What do you mean? You-you want me to leave town?”

  “No.” He bit down a smile and shook his head. “I simply know if you’re running from someone, you’d be safer with me. If trouble comes, I’ll be the first one to find it.”

  Marie didn’t doubt that.

  “Get your things.” He nodded at the small bag she’d left on the dresser. “You can stay at the ranch until you find something else. I’ll be outside calling for someone to come get this guy.” He released her and turned to go outside.

  “Sheriff.” She looked at the man who lay on the bed. The miner had fallen fast asleep. His snoring could have woken the dead. “What are you going to do?”

  Jake’s lips thinned. “Lock him up for drunk and disorderly.”

  She frowned.

  “Don’t worry,” he sneered, “I don’t need you for that.”

  She bit her nails when he marched out, a habit she hadn’t practiced since high school. How did he know she was on the run?

  Marie mumbled to herself and glanced around at the small, cramped room. Her eyes rested on the busted door. Stay with the sheriff?

  She gulped. At this point, it didn’t look as if she had much choice.

  Chapter Three

  Jake opened the driver-side window and let the cold night air hit him as he drove down the road. “You ever been in a police car?”

  “No.” Marie shook her head. She still shook from the attack.

  “Well, that’s a good sign. Maybe we should celebrate.” He turned down the radio so they could speak without the dispatcher’s voice interrupting them.

  “Look, about the hole in my window. I…” She waved a hand in the air. “Well…” She licked her lips and the sensual act about sent Jake’s testosterone through the roof. “Would you believe a rock made it?” A sarcastic tone underlined her words. She lifted her brows and bent her head as if to peek under them.

  “Lady,” he rubbed his temple to prevent his small migraine from growing, “if you don’t want to tell me, don’t. I’ll find out sooner or later.”

  The way she looked at him, he figured she hoped for later. He sighed, resigned to her sudden silence, and watched the dark road. After he passed the last lit house along the way, he glanced at her. “Don’t tell me it was a jealous husband.”

  She bit her lip to suppress a small smile. “I’ve never been married.”

  The sight of her wet mouth doing that made his dick itch. He cleared his throat and nodded with relief. “A jealous boyfriend?”

  “No,” she snapped. His effort to get her to talk vanished with her frown. She turned her head and looked out the window.

  “Okay.” He pulled onto the dirt road that led to the house. “We won’t talk about it.”

  She looked at him, her eyes wide and glassy. She chewed her bottom lip again, an affectation that made him think more of the bedroom than her problem.

  He pressed his lips together to halt the direction his mind took. She needed shelter. He could help her. That was enough, for now.

  “How did you know I’d have a problem tonight?”

  He shrugged and focused on the moment. “Common sense. A good-looking woman with all these loons around is bound to have some trouble.”

  “Is that why you stayed at the diner?”

  “Partly. I still wanted to ask you about the housekeeping. Besides…” He arched an eyebrow. “I wanted to know why you left me in my leather diaper. Never got to ask about that.”

  She rolled her eyes upward and put her hand over her mouth in a failed attempt to cover her impish grin. “You know, I had no idea what kind of contest that was. Katie pulled me along with her. Said I should get to know you better then tricked me into judging. I didn’t know you’d be in it.”

  He laughed outright. Tilting his head, he rubbed his chin. “Leave it to Katie. Somebody should have warned you about her.” He pulled into the drive and gazed at the old wood-frame house. It’d been part of the ranch for nearly a century. The place wasn’t grandiose but his home had plenty of space. The room in back would be perfect for a woman willing to live in a motel.

  Jake watched Marie’s expression as he parked. She was still scared but at least she cooperated. He opened his car door and the horses whinnied from the corral. Ranger, his prize quarter horse, danced in the scant moonlight. The view welcomed him home.

  Jake looked at Marie. Her face brightened as she gazed at the horses. “You ride?” he asked.

  “No.” She shook her head. “I wish I did.”

  “Well, you stay around long enough, you might learn.”

  Her eyes twinkled. Jake decided he liked the way they looked. Satisfied he’d done right by bringing her home, he stepped out and got her bag from the trunk. She followed him up the creaky stairs of the side porch and Jake heard the television through one of the two closed doors that led onto the deck. He turned the knob to the one on the right, which led to the family room, and opened it. His son sat on the couch, glued to the screen. “Jesse, this is Marie.”

  “Dad.” It took the boy a second to realize that Jake had come home. When he saw Marie, Jesse grew wide-eyed. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” She smiled back at him.

  Jake tousled the boy’s sandy hair. “This is Jesse.” He looked at his son. “Marie will be with us a while, so be nice to her. I’m working to get her to stay and help us around the house.”

  “Aw, Dad. I’m always nice.” He turned to Marie. His clear, blue eyes seemed to grow wider. “You still gonna work at the diner?”

  Marie shot Jake a sideways glance. “Depends on whether I keep spilling the coffee, I guess.”

  “Hah. I saw you at the contest. Wasn’t Dad awesome?”

  She blushed.

  Jake frowned. “Jesse, come get this bag and put it in the guest bedroom.” The boy ran to take the satchel as Jake pushed up the brim of his hat and scanned the room. “Where’s Cal?”

  “He said he had a date and you’d be home soon. Didn’t matter anyways. Gramps and I’ve been watching TV.”

  Jake mouthed the word “no” then pushed his hand downward and out of Marie’s sight.

  “Oh,” Jesse whispered and cut his eyes to Marie. “Uh, I’ll go put this in the back for you.” He smiled a toothy grin then hurried down the hall as fast as the large bag would let him.

  Marie giggled behind her hand. “Don’t be upset with him. He’s proud of you.”

  “Yeah.” Jake grimaced. “Proud his dad has great buns.”

  She laughed. “If you were worried about what he thought, why’d you do it?”

  He pulled off his hat and hooked the Stetson on the coat rack. “’Cause I wanted the prize money. Jesse needs some new clothes. Every one of his jeans has a hole in the knees.”

  “Well, I’m sure he thinks more of you than what your backside can buy him.”

  “I hope so.” He shook his head. What she’d said made him sound like a street-corner hooker. “You want to see the rest of the house?”

  “Sure,
I’d love to.”

  He led her into the hall. “Front door’s to the right.” He pointed to it then hitched a thumb to his left. “The stairs lead to Jesse’s room and the attic. The kitchen’s the next opening down the hall. Through it is the other door that opens to the porch.” Jake waved at the doorway across from the family room. “That’s the parlor, my private retreat from the world.” He stepped across the hall and flipped on the light.

  Behind him, Marie sighed. “Look at all these antiques. They’re beautiful.” She entered after him and walked to the breakfront he used as a bar. Her fingers caressed the dark, aged wood. “You probably have a small fortune in furniture.” She walked to the glassed gun case and peered at the contents. “These are antiques, too, aren’t they?” She pointed to Gramps’ pistol.

  He nodded. “They were my great-great grandfather’s. He was an officer at the fort.”

  “You’re kidding?” Her eyes sparkled with pleasure.

  Warmth emanated from her. The sense stirred something in him, something that yearned for more permanence. He wasn’t certain what it was, but he was pretty sure right now he didn’t want to know. Marie had issues. One screwed-up woman in a lifetime was enough.

  “Your family’s been here that long?”

  He shook off the sensation. “Yep.” He took pride in his heritage. He couldn’t deny the fact that she’d been impressed had pleased him. “I keep most of the family heirlooms right here.”

  “I love old things,” she said with a wisp of sadness. She held her hands behind her back as if to stop herself from touching the rich wood.

  “Well then…” He put his hand on the small of her back, liking the feel of her, and guided her out. “You’ll salivate over your bedroom. By the way, you have the run of the house so feel free to use this room anytime.” He shut off the light and escorted her down the hall. He let his hand slide into the curve of her waist.

  “Where’s Gramps?”

  Her question caught him off guard. “Ah…” Jake whistled through his teeth. “Well…” He looked into her unwary face and shifted his feet. “You see, Gramps is our…” He lifted his free hand to explain.

  Her eyes burned bright with innocent curiosity.

  “He’s not here right now.” Jake’s breath whooshed between his parted lips and he dropped the hand he’d raised. That, at least, was the truth.

  Jesse came out of the bedroom. The boy giggled at Jake’s attempt to explain Gramps. Jake shot his son a black look as Jesse slid pass them and hurried down the hall. Frowning, Jake ushered Marie onward. When they reached the bathroom, he flipped on the light. “We only have one of these, at least for now. I hope to build another on the back next year.”

  A sneeze came from the mirror. Jake did a double take when Gramps popped out of it. He took his hand off Marie. With his back to her, he barred the doorway. “Go away,” he whispered through clenched teeth.

  Marie’s light footfalls shuffled closer. Jake whirled and spread his arms between the doorjamb to block her entry.

  “She cain’t see me, boy,” the ghost said behind him. “One of the tricks of the trade.”

  “Thank God.” His body sagged with relief.

  “What did you say?” She peeked under Jake’s arms. Her eyes scanned what had once been a large closet.

  “Nothing.” He shook his head and eyed Gramps over his shoulder, wishing the spirit would disappear.

  “Oh, a claw-foot tub.” She ducked underneath him and sauntered to the large bath.

  Jake turned to watch her, took in the curve of her ass as she bent over to inspect the tub. Her slender fingers ran along the cool porcelain. The vision of her naked in the bath, her wet fingertips on his skin, flashed in his mind. His cock twitched. God.

  “This is huge. I…” She looked at him. “You mind if I…?” She waved toward the tub.

  “Ask her if she wants a bath.” Gramps grinned as if he recognized the effect Marie had on Jake.

  Jake growled low in his throat and swore he could smell his new cologne on the old coyote. Keeping his back to the specter, Jake stepped inside the room and leaned against the countertop, hoping Gramps would go away.

  “I’m tellin’ yuh, boy,” Gramps whispered in his ear, “this one yuh gotta keep. Ask her if she wants a bath.”

  Jake twisted around and glared at the ghost. “Split,” he mouthed. He didn’t need any advice from a dead man on how to romance a woman.

  The old man doffed his hat and took his time as he faded. “Hang on to her, boy. Yuh don’t want to lose the gal.” Then with a puff, he disappeared.

  Jake scowled and looked at Marie.

  She rubbed her arms and came to him. The nipples of her breasts peaked against the fabric of her blouse. “Is something wrong?” Her softened, airy tone could seduce a man, her voice purred like a woman who’d just been satisfied—in his bed.

  He was sure she didn’t mean it that way but between the sight of her taut nipples and the husky undertone in her voice, his cock hardened. He hoped she didn’t notice. “No,” he cleared his throat, wanting to crush the urge to take her there on the counter—as well as deny the black mood Gramps had put him in. “You cold?”

  “A little.” Her delicate brows knitted. He’d confused her with his terse reply.

  “Uh…” He straightened, needing to correct the misunderstanding. “You want to take a bath?”

  “I’d like to, yes.” She lifted a lock of her hair and sniffed. “Do I smell bad?”

  “No.” He eased back on the counter. “I like the way you smell.”

  “Funny,” she wrinkled her nose, “I thought I reeked of stale grease.”

  Jake picked up the lock and took a whiff. “Smells like fried bacon. I like fried bacon.” He rubbed the soft strands between his fingers and let his fantasy of fucking her in the bath come into his mind again.

  She frowned and pulled her hair away. “Thanks a lot.”

  He lifted a corner of his mouth and got a grip on himself. “I should warn you, I don’t have any fancy soap.”

  “Plain soap will work.”

  “Well, that we have. Come on. I’ll show you your room.” He gave the bathroom a black look before he turned the light off and prayed Gramps wouldn’t reappear.

  What Jake deemed the guest room was larger than his. It had been his parents’ and he’d decided long ago it was too big for him. Unless, of course, he had someone to share the large four-poster bed with. He cut a side glance at Marie, yearned to see for himself how soft her body was, how she would feel underneath him as they lay on the downy mattress.

  He knocked the idea out of his head. Like she’d said, they barely knew each other. He let her walk to the doorway then stood to the side and watched. She paused when she saw the bed, her eyes wide with pleasure. He used her hesitation to his advantage and put his hand at the small of her back again to guide her in.

  She smiled at him then stepped inside. Marie glanced around then strolled over to the high-platform bed and stroked the handmade quilt. “You want me to sleep here?” She turned to him all soft and doe-eyed.

  “Yeah.” His voice caught in his throat, a by-product of the strange effect she had on him.

  “This is beautiful.” She ran her hand along the oiled cherry wood.

  He nodded. “It’s the best room in the house.”

  She pushed over the bag Jesse had set on the covers and stepped on the short stool to climb onto the bed. “Has the bed been handed down, too?”

  He nodded. “It was my mother’s and her mother’s before her.”

  She bent over and touched the lace that covered the end tables. “This too?”

  “That too.”

  “This is…wonderful.” She gingerly bounced on the mattress.

  He leaned against the doorjamb, feeling warm inside.

  She bounced again but hit sideways on her hip and fell back on the bed with a moan.

  In two strides, he reached her. “You okay?” He worried that the bump on her head had be
en more serious than he’d thought. He put a leg on either side of her sprawled body to balance himself then leaned over and held her face between his palms to look for any residual trauma.

  Her hands slid against the backs of his. She held them there a moment. Her lashes lowered. Her mouth parted. The green in her eyes deepened, beckoned him and yet questioned him at the same time.

  He held his breath. Her soft pants caused her breasts to rise and fall. The movement highlighted her cleavage and the sweet promise that lay beneath the cloth. Her breathy sighs caressed his chin. She raked her bottom lip with her teeth then outlined the lip with the pink tip of her tongue. Her wet mouth called for his touch. His face lay within inches of hers. He came closer.

  She blinked and released a jagged breath. Her eyes reflected her confusion. He paused, not knowing what she wanted. Her tongue wet her lips again as she hooked her fingers into his palms and eased his hands away.

  They stared at each other a moment. His body rested against hers, her hips between his legs. Could she feel how hard he was for her? What she’d done to him?

  “I’m fine,” she whispered in that taunting way again. “I’m sorry.” She shook her head and looked away. Her eyes glittered with moisture. “I’m exhausted.” She gazed through the side of her lowered lids. “Jake—” She pressed her lips together. Terror flashed in her eyes again then was gone. “I haven’t felt this saf—I mean, welcomed in a long time.”

  He brushed the hair away that had fallen in her eyes. A strong sense to protect her drew him in, made him risk moving his mouth a hairsbreadth from hers. He remembered himself before he indulged and tasted her lips. “You’ll be safe here,” he rasped, then stood to break their connection, “provided you haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Fear blazed in her again a moment before she schooled her features.

  He rose and left, unheeding the powerful urge to stay and explore what her body offered. As he exited, he turned in the doorway. “I’ll be across the hall if you need me.” Jake stepped out and closed the door. He let his hand rest on the knob while he sucked in a couple of breaths to steady himself, half hoping she would need him, ’cause he sure as hell needed her. He pressed his hand to his cock and rolled his eyes to force some common sense into his muddled brain. She was a woman on the run. That look of sheer terror she had bothered him. What had happened? Was she guilty of some crime?