A View to a Kill

by Mandy M. Roth

  “Firecracker looks to be doing well,” a deep, familiar voice came from behind her.

  Think of the devil and he shall appear.

  Turning, Paige found a six-foot–five-inch wall of toned muscle sitting on the top rail of the wooden fence. He hadn’t been there a moment ago. The man’s black goatee matched his shoulder-length hair and his thick eyelashes, drawing attention to his silver eyes. It wasn’t a color one found naturally and there was a time Paige wouldn’t have questioned him on the fact. That time had long since passed. Even with all the questions she had for the man before her, there was still no denying the fact he took her breath away. She’d heard it said before—looking that good should be outlawed. She tended to agree. She also thought she’d never see him again. His return wasn’t exactly welcomed. It confused her.

  “Sachin?”

  He smiled. “Paige, it’s been far too long.”

  His body was a model of perfection. He ran his hands over his jean-clad thighs and tipped his head, offering a sheepish smile. It was a smile that used to make her melt, but his appearing and disappearing act had long since worn on her. The last time had been the final straw. He’d had the nerve to run out on her the minute he’d finished having sex with her. She’d even gone as far as to hunt for him but it was as if he never existed. There had been no paper trail, no record of any kind of him.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  The smile slid from his face. “Ah, I see you are upset with me.”

  “And why shouldn’t I be?”

  He had no response. Not that she really expected him to be able to make a legitimate case. He did what so many men did, he ran after he’d gotten what he’d wanted.

  Was he back in hopes of more?

  Paige glanced away, needing a moment to soak in the knowledge he was indeed before her, in the flesh. There were many things she’d wanted to say to him for so long. So many things she should tell him but none of fell from her lips. A silent curse was all she could muster before collecting her thoughts once more. She set her sights on the horse. “This isn’t the same Firecracker you remember. He passed away.”

  “Really?” Sachin asked, as his gaze swept over the horse. “He looks almost identical.”

  “I know.” A half smile tugged at her lips and she fought it. “It’s why I named him Firecracker Redux. He’s a pistol who survived horrible abuse. You should have seen the conditions they had him living in, Sachin. Rusted, barbed-wire fencing, a metal shelter with a broken door and his food was moldy and infested with worms. Don’t even get me started on the physical abuse.”

  Why was she talking to him so calmly when all she really wanted to do was kick, scream, throw a fit at how he’d abandoned her and the secrets he’d obviously kept from her. She’d practiced what she’d say or do if she were to ever come face-to-face with Sachin again. All of it went out the window the moment she stared into his silver gaze. Something deep inside her chest tugged, feeling as if invisible strings connected them.

  “Like his predecessor,” Sachin offered, his voice thick.

  She nodded, her heart in her throat and an array of emotions washing over her. She tried to convince herself it was because of his concern for an animal she’d loved but she knew that was only part of the reason she was close to crying. He was back and deep down Paige knew that was all she’d ever really wanted. But she couldn’t take him toying with her feelings again. There was no way she could let him beneath the shield she’d built, the one that had finally allowed her to stop crying herself to sleep at night—the one that would let her start to live again.

  “Then it’s a fitting name for a fine horse,” he offered evenly.

  Firecracker nudged her, urging her to move towards Sachin. The first Firecracker, an equally black stallion with a similar wild streak, had always seemed to take to the mysterious rogue, no matter how many times Sachin vanished for months on end, chipping away at her hardened heart in the process. Its namesake seemed just as enamored with Sachin.

  Sachin hopped down from the fence and dusted off his backside. Oh God, how she wanted to be the one touching him but it wasn’t to be. Paige had once thought Sachin might have feelings for her that extended beyond a roll in the hay. He couldn’t care about her and vanish.

  “Paige.” He put his hand out and stroked the top of Firecracker’s head. “Are you going to talk to me or are you planning on giving me menacing stares the entire time I’m here?”

  “And how long is it that you are here for, Sachin? I’d like to know since I’m planning on the latter of the two.” Annoyed with her behavior, Paige took hold of Firecracker’s reins and tried to lead him from the exercise area. Sachin blocked her path and the horse seemed bound and determined to stand his ground as well.

  Men. They were all traitors and coconspirators.

  Sachin laughed, as if he’d read her thoughts.

  “How long do you want me here?” His sliver gaze slid over her slowly, heating her body along the way.

  Paige swallowed down the lump in her throat, fighting to maintain control. For some reason, whenever Sachin was near, she responded to his very presence. No other man had made her react so and she seriously doubted any ever would. It made it damn hard to get over Sachin’s disappearing acts, his secrets and in the end his use of her, and move forward but she was determined to do just that. Her heart wasn’t a toy and he’d played with it enough. Besides, it was no longer just her that she had to worry about—she’d moved on and another man’s happiness was now intertwined with hers. She had questions for Sachin but they would have to wait until she could prepare herself to deal with him.

  “You should go,” she heard herself say, unsure where the courage to form the words came from.

  He ignored her.

  “Sachin.”

  Leaning down, he put his lips dangerously close to hers. Kissing him would be so easy. He’d branded her with the taste of his kisses long ago, imprinting them on her. Her lips tingled with remembered pleasures. To give in to him would be so easy. A sweet surrender.

  He inched his fingers up her sides, partially under her shirt and Paige did the same to him, needing skin-to-skin contact. Her body was starved for him and if she were forced to admit it, so was she. Each press of his fingers into her flesh caused another torrent of cream to form between her legs. Needing someone this bad wasn’t normal. She should be furious at him for his betrayal and for so many other reasons but her mind was awash with nothing but feelings of the moment.

  “Paige!”

  Sachin stiffened at the sound of the male voice. Last he knew Paige and Sarah lived alone on the ranch, rehabilitating horses. They’d stopped taking in troubled teens several years back. The only hired hand they’d had was a young boy, around the age of fifteen or sixteen. Surely not old enough to have a voice as deep as the one he’d just heard. He waited for any sign from Paige as to who the man was but got his answer soon enough.

  A tall man appeared from around the side of the barn, carrying a basket with him. He wore a cowboy hat and looked to fit the part perfectly—a country boy—a human country boy. Something Sachin could never be. He would forever be a warrior from another realm.

  He’d thought she was a passing thing, a phase he needed to go through on his path of life. How wrong he’d been. She was so much more. An obsession. A gift the gods would not grant him.

  The man with the basket approached slowly, his eyes full of questions but his facial expression agreeable. There was something familiar about the man but Sachin couldn’t place him. “Who do we have here?”

  Paige pushed her long auburn hair behind her ear and shuffled her feet, a sure sign she was nervous. “Umm, Bailey, this is an old friend of mine, Sachin.”

  Bailey? He knew that name from somewhere. At some point Paige had mentioned it to him. As if reading his mind, Paige glanced towards him. “Bailey is the sheriff here. He helped me when I had those problems with vandals last year.”

  I bet he did.

/>   Sachin barely kept hold of his temper as he watched Bailey bend and plant a kiss on the corner of Paige’s mouth. “Mmm, baby, I didn’t know you had company today or I wouldn’t have—”

  Baby?

  “He just stopped by and is leaving.” She gave Sachin a daring look.

  “Nonsense, I brought enough food for an army. You know how my momma is. She heard I wanted to bring lunch out to you and she insisted on coming over to my house to prepare it.” Bailey laughed and the sound grated on Sachin’s nerves. “She kept mumbling something about how bad my cooking is.” Bailey glanced at Sachin. “Care to join us for lunch?”

  He’d much rather rip the man’s head from his shoulders but Sachin kept that bit to himself and nodded. “Thank you. I’d be honored.”

  Paige gawked at him, her mouth open wide. “What?”

  Sachin grinned. “The man made me an offer I could not refuse.”

  Her gaze shifted towards the main house and Sachin wondered what it was Paige was concerned about. He put his hand out. “Here, I can take that basket to the house.”

  “No,” Paige said quickly. She took a moment, adjusting her shirt and rubbing her palms on her thighs before locking gazes with him. “I’ll get it, Sachin. Really. Sarah’s resting and I don’t want to wake her.”

  Interrogating prisoners was one of Sachin’s specialties. He had a sixth sense for a lie. His skills were not needed to know Paige wished desperately to keep him from the main house. But why? He’d never harmed her, at least not physically.

  Mayhap I have twisted her heart and her trust of me by rushing off in the night.

  He knew Paige had led a hard life, one that left her first being fostered by the woman who had owned the ranch and then eventually adopted by her. Trust was something she didn’t offer freely and a part of him knew she might not be willing to accept him back into her life. No amount of foresight helped to ease the pain of seeing her in another man’s arms.

  Bailey gave her a little swat on the backside and Sachin was reminded of seeing Lazar with the whore several days prior. His thoughts shifted and images of Paige surrendering herself to Bailey plagued him. Hot rage tore through him and he made a move to go at Bailey.

  Oh God, Sachin’s going to kill him. It will be bad enough if Sarah wakes and realizes he’s here. She’ll tie me down and force me to marry him. Just keep him away from the house and away from Bailey, then everything should be fine.

  Hearing Paige’s thoughts in his head made Sachin stop dead in his tracks. He stared at her long and hard, sure it had been a play of the mind. A trick of some sort. Tipping his head, he waited to hear more but none came.

  Paige handed the basket to Bailey. “Will you take this up? I’ll be there in just a second. I want to get Firecracker Redux back to the stables. Sachin can help me.”

  Bailey cast a worried glance in Sachin’s direction before reluctantly taking the basket from Paige’s outstretched hand. “Sure thing.” He bent and kissed her again, taking his life into his own hands.

  Sachin fought the urge to kill the man and remained motionless. Once Bailey was far from view, Paige turned to Sachin, her expression anything but kind. “You lay one hand on him and I will skin you alive. Understand?”

  He bit back a laugh. He’d been privy to many skinning alives and knew Paige lacked the knowledge or the stomach for the act but her threat was admirable. “Yes. I understand.”

  “Good.” She walked towards the horse. “Now, help me lead him back to the stables.”

  He fell into step next to her. They made their way into the back stables and he assisted in corralling the horse. When he looked, he found Paige sliding the barn door shut and then focusing on him.

  “Why did you leave?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

  Because I had to.

  “I did not come here to cause you pain, Paige.”

  She lifted her chin. “Then why did you come? Why now after all of these months?”

  Because I missed you.

  “If you truly wish for me to leave,” he sighed, “I will.”

  He thought for a minute she would say yes. She didn’t. Putting her hand to her mouth, she stifled a tiny cry as her shoulders slumped. It broke his heart to see her weep and before he knew it, he had Paige held tight to him, her face buried against his chest. It felt good to hold her again. Too long had gone by without the feel of her.

  Each sob cracked the hardness surrounding his heart. He hated knowing he’d done this to her. He’d upset her. Planting a tiny kiss upon her head, he tried to will her to be happy again, to forgive him.

  Paige pushed on his chest and shook her head, wiping her tear-stained cheeks. “No. I will not cry over you again. I’m done with that. I’m done with,” her gaze met his, “you. I have to talk to you about something important. I have questions for you about what happened the night we met. But not now. Not when Bailey is around.”

  “I could remove him from the equation,” Sachin offered.

  She stared up at him. “I agreed to marry him. He’s part of my life now, Sachin.”

  A harder blow an enemy had never delivered. He tried to draw air in but found he couldn’t. He staggered backwards, bumping into a wooden support beam. “You’re to be married?”

  “Yes.”

  How could she move on without me? How could she give herself to another man?

  Paige cleared her throat and forced her shoulders back, looking proud. “It wasn’t easy, Sachin. It took me months to give up on you…on us. I have a life started now and it’s a good one. I won’t let you waltz in, cause turmoil and then vanish.”

  He blinked. She’d answered his unspoken questions. But how? Legends of old spoke of the ability for mated pairs of his race to be able to communicate with nothing more than thoughts. Kabril never mentioned such a thing occurring with Rayna. It had to just be a coincidence.

  She took several steps away from him, adjusting herself along the way. “Where are you staying?”

  Close to you.

  He regarded her with caution for she looked much like she was about to take flight. As if that were even possible. “In the area. Why?” he said coolly.

  “Is there a number I can reach you at?” Her gaze drifted towards the barn door. “Please don’t leave town until I’ve had a chance to—”

  “You two coming?” Bailey asked, opening the door.

  Paige forced a smile to her face. “I am. Sachin just remembered he has another appointment. He won’t be able to join us for lunch. Maybe another time.”

  Allowing her to think he’d leave for now was best. He nodded and left Paige in the stables with Bailey. The minute Sachin was around the side of the structure he removed his clothing quickly and shoved it behind a barrel. A sharp pinching, followed closely by a feeling of freedom swept over him as he shifted forms, into that of a hawk. He selected the smallest size he could, which was still considerably bigger than the hawks that frequented the human realm. He took flight and circled the stables, watching as Paige and Bailey emerged from within. He hovered high in the air, ever mindful of where they were and what they were doing.

  * * *

  Paige tried and failed to shake the feeling she was being watched. She sat on the deck of the main house, picking at the food Bailey’s mother had prepared.

  “You feeling all right?” Bailey asked.

  “I’m fine. Why?”

  “You’ve hardly said more than a few words and I don’t think you’ve heard a word I’ve said.”

  She set her fork down. “I heard you.”

  He gave her an amused look. “Oh, really? Then where did I suggest we take our honeymoon?”

  She gulped. Okay, maybe she hadn’t been listening to him. “Someplace romantic?” she asked, hopeful she could skate on such a thin answer.

  Bailey snickered. “If your feet are getting cold, I could warm them for you.” The innuendo wasn’t lost on her. “I have to get back to work but later tonight I could warm you up real nice.”r />
  “Tonight is date night.” She winked. “You’re not trying to get out of having to take me out on the town, are you?”

  A mock gasp came from him. “I would never.”

  “Right.”

  He blushed. “Didn’t hurt to try to get out of dancing, right?”

  “No.” She giggled. “I guess it didn’t, but you’re still meeting me for date night. Like it or not. And, Bailey, what if we waited a little while to get married.”

  He began to toy with his paper plate. “Are you telling me you want out of this?”

  “No, I’m just trying to avoid rushing into anything. I’d like some more time.”

  “If it’s time you need, Paige, it’s time you’ll have.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I want you to be happy.”

  She wanted to be happy too but Paige knew Bailey wasn’t the man who could make that happen. It pained her to know in the end he would be hurt if she dared to give in to the pull Sachin seemed to have over her.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  She took his hand and rubbed it over her cheek. “You’re a good man, Bailey. Too good for me.”

  Bailey slid around to her side of the table and pressed his lips to her cheek. The feel of him so close normally made her crave his affection. Not now. No, now she couldn’t resist glancing towards an oversized oak tree that sat near the deck. Something was watching her, or someone.

  Sachin.

  If what she suspected was true, he very well could be near and she would be none the wiser. Paige held tight to her emotions, unwilling to let on about her fears and suspicions. Bailey would never understand. He’d think she was crazy and he could try to harm the people she cared most about.

  Bailey leaned in, his mouth greeting hers. He wasn’t the man she wanted to spend her life with but he was the only one who was reliable. The next best thing. She gave in and pressed her lips to his. Closing her eyes, Paige opened her mouth as Bailey swept his tongue in. He moaned and she tipped her head.

  He inched closer and Paige squirmed, adjusting to get comfortable.

  The sound of a bird screeching jarred her from their kiss just in time for a massive amount of bird poop to land on Bailey’s head.