by Nan Dixon
Footsteps sounded next to his head. He closed his eyes and caught her roaming hands. “I’m good. Nice work.”
To prove he was fine, he stood and pulled her up with him. He held her hand a few moments longer than necessary. What was worse? Being clocked by the woman he loved or having her break his heart?
“I think we can call it a night,” he said.
The adults laughed.
“I’ve got treats in the kitchen,” Abby said.
“And Jameson or beer?” Liam asked.
“Am I Abby Fitzgerald?” She grinned.
“Smythe,” Gray added under his breath.
They laughed again, but there was another sound.
Whimpering came from where the kids were sitting. He and Courtney jerked around. Issy rocked back and forth, her head tucked between her knees.
They rushed over.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” Courtney knelt and rubbed her back.
Kaden tipped up Issy’s chin. “Did you see what Miss Courtney did? To me?”
Issy nodded. Tears clung to her eyelashes. “Did she shoot you?”
“Oh, God,” Courtney whispered.
“No. She hit me with her elbow, but I’m okay.” He took her hand and patted it on his chest. “She’s learning how to protect you.”
Her blond eyebrows smashed together in a frown. “Me?”
Courtney nodded. “Kaden is teaching us how to defend ourselves. To defend you.”
“From Mommy?” Issy’s voice was a soft whisper.
Nathan and Cheryl rushed over and touched her shoulders. Josh took her hand.
“Yes, short stuff.” Nathan’s voice cracked. He picked up Issy and nestled her into his chest. Cheryl hugged the two of them and Josh kept his hand on his sister’s leg. They were a unit.
Kaden and Courtney slipped away, letting the family take over.
Heading out the door, the rest of the adults followed. He and Courtney straightened up the room.
What a heavy burden Nathan and Cheryl carried, keeping Issy and Josh safe. How did they do it day in and day out?
Courtney set her hand on his back. “What’s wrong?”
He slid away and folded up the mats. “What do you mean?”
“I saw your face as you watched Nathan, Cheryl and the kids. It went...blank. Like someone died. Full of—of despair.”
“Someone could have died.” Didn’t she understand? He took her shoulders. “You. You could have died. Heather could have had a gun. You could have been shot.”
He wrapped his arms around her, needing to touch her.
It was like hugging a boulder. Until she softened and hugged him back. She carefully rested her forehead on his chest. “She didn’t have a gun. She didn’t hurt me. I’m fine.”
“But she did hurt you.” He pulled away and touched her cheek. “I shouldn’t have let this happen.”
“Maybe it will keep people from looking at just my face.” Bitterness filled Courtney’s voice.
“You will always be beautiful to me,” he whispered.
They were so close. Her gaze dropped to his mouth and lingered like a soft kiss.
He brushed his lips on hers. When her mouth opened, he took it as an invitation. He had to kiss her again. Touch her again. He couldn’t go a lifetime without her taste being part of his day.
He stroked his tongue against hers, keeping it gentle. He brushed kisses on her uninjured cheek and eye. “I missed you, missed this.”
She hummed, just like when they’d made love.
Needing her to understand, he placed his hand over her heart. “Your beauty comes from here. Not your face.”
She swayed and her face went pale.
“Are you all right?” He guided her to one of the small chairs and set her in it. “What’s wrong?”
“I need to...rest.” She rested her good cheek in one of her hands. “I should get back to Gray’s place.”
“You did too much.” He stroked her hair. “Let me finish picking up. Then I’ll take you back.”
She nodded.
He made quick work of tucking away the mats and moving tables and chairs back into place. Then he scooped Courtney into his arms.
She smacked his arm. “Don’t carry me.”
“You’re exhausted. You’re still recovering from a trauma.” And he needed to hold her.
She didn’t fight. Just set her head on his chest, defeated.
The trip across the courtyard was too short. A couple sitting outside the Carleton House library sighed loud enough for him and Courtney to hear them. The couple didn’t know this was a mockery of romance. Sure, he wanted to sweep Courtney off her feet, but she was too blasted tired to complain that he was carrying her.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He set her down on the top step of the porch and leaned in to kiss her goodnight.
Courtney placed a hand on his chest. “Stop. Our kiss in the center was wrong. It won’t happen again.”
“But we both wanted it.” Didn’t they? He hadn’t forced her, had he?
“It doesn’t change what happened.” She spun and disappeared into the carriage house.
And his heart broke into a few more pieces.
* * *
COURTNEY GOT READY for bed, avoiding the mirror. You will always be beautiful to me. Was Kaden using her again?
He’d put his hand on her heart and kissed her so tenderly, she’d wanted to curl into his arms and spend a lifetime there.
No one had ever seen beneath her face. Not her parents or her supposed friends.
Why Kaden? The man who’d gotten close to her for his job. Why did he have to be the one to see through the facade?
Was he exploiting her vulnerabilities so he could stay close to her and Issy? He’d done so before. Why would he change now?
Still ignoring her reflection, she headed into the bedroom and stared out the sliding glass door at the Fitzgerald carriage house. Kaden’s apartment was on the opposite side of the building. Was he still awake?
She should be moving on. That had never been a problem before. But when Kaden was near, she wanted to jump into his arms, tell him about her day and funny stories about the kids. After she’d smashed her elbow into his chin, she’d longed to kiss his injury better. Her fickle heart refused to believe what she and Kaden had shared had been fake.
At least she’d come to her senses as he’d carried her back to the carriage house. She’d have to make sure they didn’t get too close. Because if they did, she’d want to get closer.
Swallowing back the tears that threatened to fall anytime she thought about Kaden, she sank into a chair. If she tried to sleep, she’d dream about him. And wake up aching.
Her chest tightened. She drew in a sharp breath. Had she finally fallen in love? No! She couldn’t have. Not with Kaden.
But the pieces fit. The way her body wanted to be near his. The way she couldn’t stop looking in his eyes. The need to touch him, even after he’d betrayed her.
She wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on her knees. She’d known she was smart, even if her family or friends didn’t acknowledge her intelligence. But falling in love with Kaden was stupid.
She would ignore it. Ignore him.
She refused to be in love with a man she couldn’t trust.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
KADEN POURED HIS morning coffee and ran the license plates of the cars in the parking lot and those parked near the B and B. It was routine now. Wake up. Scan the surveillance cameras. Enter the plates and wait for the results. He had to smile when the camera scanned the new sign: Fitzgerald House Day Care—Now Open.
He was so damn proud of Courtney for pulling this off.
For the first time a name jumped
out at him. Salvez. He sloshed coffee on his hand. Sucking on his singed fingers, he skimmed the license plate information. Not Hector Salvez, Heather Bole’s new partner. It was a Michael. Kaden didn’t believe in coincidence. He called Roger.
“What’s up?” Roger asked.
“I’ve got a plate registered to a Michael Salvez. Black Land Rover.”
“Michael, not Hector?”
“Yeah. Can you find out if there’s a link between Michael and Hector?”
Today would be the worst day to have Heather show up. He was picking up Granddad at eleven and moving him to Carleton House. “There’s a party at the B and B today. It’ll be a mob scene. I want backup.”
“Your replacement’s on his way,” Roger said. “He should be there by noon. You can back him up.”
Kaden jerked, spilling the rest of his coffee. “Who’s replacing me?”
“Boyd volunteered.”
Of course Boyd had volunteered. He had the hots for Courtney. “Boyd...” Kaden started to protest, but he had requested a replacement. This was what he wanted. What Courtney deserved.
He would warn Boyd away from Courtney. Or maim him if he touched her.
“Get Boyd up to speed and you can spend the rest of your time in Savannah helping your grandfather,” Roger said.
Kaden rubbed his neck. He would be off the case. He could fulfill his granddad’s wish and take him home.
And never see Courtney again.
He spread peanut butter on a piece of toast and called it breakfast. Time to head down and pull tables and chairs for the party. Abby and her crew could set up while he picked up Granddad.
He’d just rolled out the first trolley, when Courtney came up next to him.
“I’m here to help,” she said.
He drank in the sight of her. Her blue tank top matched her eyes. Her dark blue shorts showed off shapely legs he’d touched, kissed. A lump filled his throat. This might be his last day to be near her. “You’re not supposed to lift heavy things.”
“I can push a trolley.” She grabbed the front to help guide it over the flagstone path. “And I can spread tablecloths.”
“Just...don’t strain,” he said.
She let him pull the tables off and set them around the fire pit. Then she laid and clipped tablecloths to the tables.
“The last time we did this—” he slid a table into place “—you hated it.”
“I don’t anymore. I actually feel like I belong.” She shook her head and her black curls danced. She pointed at her cheek. “Do you think this is part of my seven years of bad luck after breaking those mirrors?”
“I don’t believe you’ll have seven years of bad luck.” He was close enough to brush away a strand of hair caught on her eyelashes. “I want your life to be happy. Filled with joy.”
She froze, staring into his eyes. “Kaden, don’t...”
“Oh, good.” Bess set an orchid on a table. “I want to add more color out here.”
Courtney turned away from him.
“You want me to move pots?” Kaden smiled at Bess. With the Fitzgerald women around, he didn’t need a gym membership.
“Would you?” Bess’s eyes twinkled. “Since the weather’s cooperated and we’ll be outside, I’d like to show off my flowers.”
“Sure.” He loved helping out the Fitzgeralds. They were doing so much for his granddad.
He rolled the cart back to the storage area and brought out a trolley of chairs, then another with more tables.
When Abby stopped by, he asked, “Is that enough?”
“Perfect.” Abby patted his shoulder.
Bess showed him which pots to grab from her greenhouse and where to place them. Dolley showed up with her camera. He kept his back to her as she shot pictures.
“Come on, Kaden,” Dolley cajoled. “This is for the website. Your face on the page will draw in more ladies.”
“I can’t have my face plastered on your website.” He shook his head. “I’m with the FBI.”
Courtney’s head snapped up from where she was wiping down chairs. Her jaw tightened. Damn. Another reminder he’d screwed up.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” Dolley squeezed his arm. “You’re such a part of Fitzgerald House. I won’t take your picture again.”
“No problem.” He checked the time. “Another agent will be here around noon.”
Courtney’s face paled. “Your replacement?”
He nodded, unable to tear his gaze away from her deep blue eyes.
“Good.” She turned away and added another stab wound to his heart.
Abby touched his arm. “I know you were undercover, but I’ll miss having you around.”
He’d miss being here, too. “I need to pick up my grandfather.”
“Nigel won’t admit it, but moving him into Carleton House will wear him out.” Abby handed him a key card. “Lunch will be delivered to his room so he can rest.”
“Thanks.” He wanted Courtney to come with him, wanted to spend his last hours with her. But she was finished with him.
To Abby he said, “Thank you for the way you’ve taken him into your family.”
“You’re family, too.” Abby hugged him. “You’ll always be welcome here.”
Family. He tripped a little on the flagstone paths heading to his car. He assumed when he lost Granddad, he’d be alone. The Bureau was a brutal career. Now here were these big-hearted Fitzgeralds welcoming him into the fold. Their B and B was a refuge.
As he drove to the rehab center, he didn’t have to think about the route. His SUV could almost be on autopilot from all the trips he’d made in the last eight weeks.
Granddad held court in the sunroom, already dressed in pressed khakis and a button-down shirt. His walker sat next to his chair and the group of friends he’d accumulated surrounded him.
“There’s my grandson.” Nigel waved him over. “Come meet everyone.”
After introductions, his grandfather said his goodbyes. “Let’s pick up the rest of my stuff.”
In his room, boxes filled a cart. “I guess you’re ready to leave.”
“Have been since the day you moved me in here.” Granddad pointed at two of the boxes. “We can leave those at the nurses’ station. I’ve labeled the plants and goodies and they’ll distribute them.”
“Will do.” Kaden pushed the cart slowly down the hallway. Granddad couldn’t move very fast in his walker.
Nigel sighed. “I’d rather go straight home.”
“I know.” Kaden set the boxes on the nurses’ station. “We’ll get you there. My replacement arrives today. I need to brief him on what’s going on. Then I can take you home.”
“What?”
“Roger finally freed up my replacement.”
“But you can’t abandon Issy. Forget what I’ve said about going home. You’re needed at the B and B,” Granddad protested as he eased into the SUV. “The Fitzgeralds can fuss over me for a week or two. You need to protect that little girl.”
“But I didn’t protect her.”
“Is that why you’re all het up about being replaced, because you didn’t think you did your job?” Granddad snorted. “From what I heard, if you hadn’t interrupted, Courtney could have been hurt worse and Issy might be gone.”
Kaden drove out of the parking lot. Courtney was better off without him. “But Courtney’s injuries are my fault.”
“Bullshit.”
Kaden jerked. His granddad did not curse.
“I know you.” Granddad pointed a finger at him. “You think bad things are always your fault.”
Everything inside him was as raw as an open wound. “When I care about someone, they get hurt.”
“Not true. You care about me. You should be the o
ne watching out for Issy and Courtney.” He poked Kaden’s arm. “I saw how you looked at Courtney. I used to look at your grandmother just like that. You care. And Issy? You would never let anyone hurt her. Hurt any of them. Do you really think some agent who hasn’t been with Issy or Courtney for the last two months will do the job I know you can do?”
Oh, hell. His granddad was exposing his every fear. “I failed.”
“No. You were there for them. How will you feel if they need you again and you’re not there?”
Granddad’s words ripped holes in his chest. “Terrible.”
“You want to leave their safety to someone who thinks they’re just a job?”
“No.” Boyd was a good agent, but he didn’t love Courtney. He didn’t care about Issy.
“Then you’d better figure out how to fix this.” His granddad shut his eyes and was asleep by the time they’d driven another block.
He pulled in next to Carleton House and watched Nigel sleep, love pumping through him in sync with his heartbeat. Was his grandfather right? Were Courtney and Issy safer with his protection?
But what if he stayed and put them in greater danger?
Boyd didn’t know Courtney had the heart of a warrior. He wouldn’t understand how far she would go to protect Issy and Josh.
He had to stay and had to protect them. He had to put Bole away.
Then he could leave Courtney to live her life in peace.
* * *
“DO YOU WANT these here, Miss Courtney?” Josh tugged a storage tub of art supplies into the playground area.
“Perfect.”
“What are we doing with this stuff?” Josh waved a hand over the supplies on the play area picnic table.
“I thought kids could make crowns today.”
“Princess crowns?” Disgust filled Josh’s voice. “That’s for girls.”
“Crowns are for princes, too.” She tried to think of a cartoon character who wore some sort of crown and came up blank.
“Can I make a helmet? Like Thor?” Josh asked.
“Absolutely.”
Josh looked around. “Do you need anything else?”
“I think we’re good for now.”