by Lisa Kessler
“Shit.” He closed the door and faced him. He was a little shorter than Reed but built like a truck. Jones could hold the line all by himself at full pressure. Strongest guy in the station. “I missed an investigation, too?”
“Still going on.” He grabbed his keys and phone. “I’m out.”
“Catch ya later, Reed.”
He headed for his apartment. He wanted to clean up before he went over to Callie’s place. After his last call with Erica, he’d had to take a couple of cold showers before he could sleep. Seeing her again and keeping his promise to keep his pants on wasn’t going to be easy.
After another shower, he put on clean jeans and a faded green T-shirt.
Same color as her eyes.
Shit. She was right. Today probably was a bad idea. He already thought about her way too much, and he didn’t have any doubt if they were alone, he wouldn’t be able to resist touching her. This was the same road that had led to the dead end he was trapped in right now. He ran a comb through his hair and went back out the door.
When he got to Callie and Hunter’s place, his best friend’s motorcycle was in the driveway. After Hunter had retired from the Navy, he’d moved in with his girlfriend, Callie. She was helping him get his new surf shop off the ground.
Reed had never seen his friend happier. Hunter had always had better luck with women than Reed had. Sure, they hated Hunter’s schedule and all the traveling, but they’d never been certifiable like Lila.
Enough.
He knocked on the door and grinned when Hunter opened the screen and gave him a hug. “Good to see you, man.”
Reed nodded. “You too. Retirement’s agreeing with you.”
He followed Hunter through the house to the backyard, where Callie handed Hunter the tongs for the barbecue. Then she went over to embrace Reed. “Hi. It’s great to see you.”
He tried not to, but he couldn’t help peering over Callie’s head for any sign of her friend. “Erica said she’d meet me here. I have a couple more questions about the fire.”
Callie stepped back, her gaze landing everywhere but his face. “She’s not coming after all. She e-mailed me all the information she had on Jack, though, so I can give it to you before you go.”
His heart sank.
Oh fuck. Had he been looking forward to seeing her that much? What the hell was wrong with him? She’d been honest before they kissed—no relationship, no future. And it’s not like he wanted one, either.
He cleared his throat. “All right. I can get it from you. She doesn’t need to be here.”
Callie finally met his eyes. “It’s probably better she’s not, anyway.”
He raised a brow. “Why’s that?”
Hunter turned away from the grill. “Because Callie’s going to tell you why your birthmark is flaring up, and then you’re going to lose your shit.”
Reed frowned, shifting his gaze down to Callie’s face. “I thought you were a psychologist, not a medical doctor.”
“I am,” she confirmed. “But what’s happening to your birthmark has nothing to do with medical science.”
“Before you blow his mind, the steaks are done, so let’s get all the food together first.” Hunter started moving the pieces from the grill to a platter while Reed wondered what the hell his two friends had been smoking.
Once they each had a plate of food, they sat in the afternoon sun. Hunter took off his Special Forces watch, exposing the crescent-shaped birthmark that was almost a perfect match to the one on Reed’s ankle. Only Hunter’s wasn’t red right now.
“This isn’t like a normal birthmark. It’s actually a mark from the gods.” Hunter’s gaze bored into him. “We’re Guardians.”
Reed busted up laughing. “Stop shitting me, man.” He pushed his sock down, exposing the red, angry mark. “Come on. I’ve tried creams and sprays, and nothing works.”
Callie set her fork on her plate and shot a glare at Hunter before locking eyes with Reed. “This is going to sound completely nuts.”
“Coming from a shrink, I’m a little nervous.” Reed chuckled.
She shook her head. “I mean it. The mark you each have makes you a Guardian. Which means you were destined from birth to be a protector.”
He frowned. This couldn’t be anything but a joke, but Callie looked damn serious. “Protector of what?”
“Your muse.”
Reed couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up again. But neither of his friends were joining in. He sobered. “Wait a sec…the muses were Greek, right? Daughters of a god or something?” He chuckled, wishing they’d join him in the joke. “Are you going to tell me we’re headed to Greece to hunt for muses?” He glanced at Hunter and his smile faded. His best friend wasn’t laughing.
Hunter shook his head. “I thought it was insane, too, but remember when I told you I was hearing voices?”
Reed nodded. When Hunter had come to him and confessed he’d thought he could hear people’s thoughts, Reed had cautioned him that it could get him kicked out of the SEALs.
Hunter held up his wrist. “This burns when you find your muse, the one you’re meant to protect.” He reached over to take Callie’s hand. “I’m Callie’s Guardian. The Muse of Epic Poetry lives inside her.”
Reed rubbed his forehead. This had to be some kind of twisted dream. “This isn’t funny, man.”
But Hunter still didn’t smirk. “There’s another Guardian you can meet—Nate. He’s a police detective. Thing is, we each seem to get a different ability. I can hear thoughts if they’re about my muse. I don’t know what you’re thinking right now, but…”
Reed glanced at Callie.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. “You think Callie must’ve hit her head to believe she’s an actual Greek muse?”
Reed almost dropped his plate. His friend had just repeated his thoughts almost word for word. “What the fuck?”
“I’m not lying to you, Reed,” Hunter went on. “And Nate, the other Guardian, can touch things and get visions if it’ll help him protect his muse.”
Reed got up and set his plate aside. His appetite was gone, anyway. “You’re saying there’s a muse out there somewhere, and she’s giving me some mutant power? And I’m just supposed to accept this insane shit?”
Callie got up and came over to him, peering up into his eyes. “Erica. She’s a muse like me. You must be her Guardian.”
His head was going to explode. Then his eyes widened. “My birthmark first started burning when you brought her to the FOD walk to pick foreign object debris off the airstrip.”
She nodded but didn’t say anything.
Pieces—crazy, hard-to-believe ones—were starting to fit together, so either he really was losing his shit or they weren’t lying. “If Erica is my muse and I’m supposed to be her Guardian, what am I protecting her from?”
“Arsonists, for one,” Callie said.
His blood went cold. “You think this guy is after her?”
“I don’t know for sure, but there’s a good possibility.” She paused. “You should talk to Erica.”
Reed looked at Hunter. “But I can’t hear thoughts and I’m not having any visions, either. Shouldn’t I have noticed something like that by now?”
Hunter shrugged and got up. “I don’t know how it works, man. Maybe she’s not in danger right now, but when it starts, you’ll have a leg up on me because you’ll know what’s happening. I thought I was losing my mind.”
Reed jammed a fist into the pocket of his jeans, bitterness swelling in the pit of his soul. “You expect me to just embrace this whole thing as my destiny?”
Hunter moved over to Reed and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “This isn’t like what happened with Lila.”
He turned to Hunter and took a step back. “The hell it’s not. I gave up everything for my ex. Fuck, Hunter, I promised myself I’d never let myself slide into another mess like that. I can’t do it again. Does Erica know I’m marked to be her Guardian?”
Callie shook her hea
d. “We thought if you were both here we’d get it all out in the open at once.”
Reed raked a hand through his hair. “This is fucked up. Don’t I have free will?”
“You’ve still got it.” Hunter took a couple of steps to Callie’s side and caught her hand. “We’ll watch out for Erica. No one is going to force you into this world. Birthmark or not, you still get a choice, as far as I’m concerned. Erica doesn’t have to know.”
“Good.” Reed didn’t know what he wanted, but being backed into a corner sure as hell wasn’t it. “Can I get the information on this Jack guy? Then I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Sure. Come with me.” Callie led him inside and plucked a few papers out of her printer. “Here are all the phone numbers, addresses, and e-mails she had for Jack.” She paused and added, “I know this is a lot to take in.”
“You think?” He chuffed, staring at the information on the paper. He lifted his eyes to Callie’s face. “Sorry. This isn’t your fault.”
“There’s something else you should know about Erica,” she added softly.
He lowered the papers to his side. “What’s that?”
“She didn’t ask for any of this, either. None of us did. But we’re making the best of it and risking everything we have to inspire humanity. We’ve already lost one of our fellow muses. I won’t lose another.”
Tension knotted his shoulders at the thought of anyone hurting Erica. “The danger is real?”
Callie nodded. “Very.”
He folded the papers. “I’m not committing to being a Guardian, but if this Jack bastard turns out to the arsonist, I’m going be sure he goes to jail.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Reed.”
He gave her and Hunter a wave and walked out of the house, his head spinning. What kind of rabbit hole had he just fallen into?
CHAPTER 5
Erica came out of the movie theater as the sun dipped low in the sky. She’d opted for a film as a distraction from thinking about Reed. Knowing he was over at Callie’s place was too much temptation, and seeing him again was out of the question. If he touched her, there was a good chance she’d drag him to a dark corner and enjoy every inch of him.
And if Jack really was still out there, stalking her, the obsession she could inspire was even worse than she had imagined.
She got in her car and drove west. Sunsets were an event in Crystal City, and if the traffic lights were on her side, she could get to the beach just in time. Nothing cleared her head like watching the day end with the light on the water and the sky awash in color. It made her feel small, her problems barely a blip on the universe’s radar.
The sky was already painted in breathtaking shades of orange and red as she parked. She got out and crossed over the boardwalk to the beach. She popped off her sandals and sank her feet into the still-warm sand as she walked toward the water. The wind pulled her hair back from her face, giving her a clear view of the horizon. No marine layer of fog today.
Maybe she’d finally catch that green flash as the sun disappeared into the water.
In the distance, a surfer picked up his board and walked out of the waves. With the sun behind him, she couldn’t see his face, but the shape of his body, the broad shoulders, trim waist, and muscular arms had her blood pumping. Reed?
But…how?
He came straight toward her as the sun kissed the horizon. If there was a green flash, she’d completely missed it.
He stopped in front of her and set his board down. “What brings you to the beach?”
His deep voice tempted her to come closer, to run her hands up his body. She resisted. Barely. “Helps me clear my head.”
He nodded slowly. “Me too.” He glanced at his board. “Missed you at the barbecue earlier today.” He lifted his head with a smile. “I had pants on and everything.”
And just like that, all her internal warnings about being near him fell on deaf ears. She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I’ve got no willpower where you’re concerned. Better not to risk it.”
His eyes wandered over her face. “We do need to talk, though. Someplace public.” His dark eyes sparkled in the fading light. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we should keep our pants on.”
She raised a brow. “Where’s the fun in that?”
He sobered, taking a step forward. He was close enough to touch. “Don’t tempt me.” She caught her bottom lip in her teeth, and he ran a hand through his wet hair, groaning. “Too late.” He bent to kiss her lips. “Now,” he said, pulling back, “we’re not going any further until we talk. Even if it kills me.”
He picked up his surfboard and jogged toward the beach showers. Erica walked through the sand and sat on the sea wall to wait. Daylight was fading fast into twilight, but she enjoyed the gorgeous view as Reed unzipped his wet suit and stepped out in his board shorts and nothing else. Tan, muscled, and…
And if she didn’t get a grip, she’d ruin him. She slid her fingertips under the strap of her tank top, gliding over the slick scar tissue.
This was a dangerous game they were playing.
Reed rinsed under the cold shower, waiting for his body temperature to lower. No woman had ever had this effect on him. He peeked her way a couple of times, watching her profile in the wind. Everything about her called to him—her fiery-red hair, her emerald-green eyes, and those sinful lips. His gaze slid down her body; her full breasts and round hips made him ache to touch her.
His muse.
Fuck… No.
He’d lost everything for a woman once before—his dream of being a SEAL with Hunter, of traveling the world, his pride, and his career. He wasn’t going to be anyone’s fool again. Muse or not, he wanted control of his own destiny.
He rinsed out his wet suit and headed back over to Erica. It would be safer to take her someplace public, but he’d have to go home and change to do that, and if he took her back to his place, there was a better-than-average chance they’d end up in bed.
Just the thought had his blood pumping. He focused on the waves crashing and rolling up the sand. “The captain and the chief are checking up on the information you gave Callie about Jack.” He didn’t risk looking at her, but dammit he wanted to. “Until we find this guy, you’ve got to be on guard at all times. Travel in a group and get some pepper spray.”
She leaned forward a little. “You think Jack burned down the bar?”
“So far you’re the only person who was there who had an ex requiring a restraining order.” He glanced her way before he could stop himself. “The arsonist painted a message on the back of the building near the valve for the fire sprinklers.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “It said ‘She’s mine.’”
She stared up at the sky, the pain on her face clenching his heart in a vise. “It’s him. That’s what he told me right before I got the restraining order.”
He rested his hand over hers. “We don’t know for sure yet, but if this guy’s been watching you, then you need to be careful.”
Her green eyes locked on his face, fear replacing the confident, sensual woman he’d found on the beach. “Jack served in the Navy to get a GI Bill. He’s still got a military ID to get on base for the commissary. He had access.” She rubbed her forehead, breaking eye contact. “He went on to be a lawyer. My restraining order probably screwed things up for him.” She took her hand out from under his. “He’s smart and has enough money to live off the grid if he needs to.”
“We’ll find him,” Reed ground out, a possessiveness overtaking him.
She gathered her hair and moved it over to one shoulder, then pulled the strap on her tank top down her arm. The front of her shoulder just below her collar bone was scarred. A round burn about the size of a cigarette lighter. He hadn’t gotten her completely naked the other night, so he hadn’t seen it.
He met her eyes, rage smoldering in his gut. “He did this to you?”
She nodded. “He said I was his, branded like a cow.”
Without hesit
ation, he drew her into his arms, kissing the top of her head as he scanned the beach. “We’re going to nail this guy.”
“You don’t understand.” She looked up at him. “The fire wasn’t just a message for me. It was for you. He must’ve seen us leave together. He knows you’re a fireman, and if he sees you with me, he’ll burn everything to the ground.”
He ran his hand along her jaw. “He’s never going to hurt you again.” While part of him was still struggling with the ramifications of the conversation with Callie and Hunter, he had every intention of keeping this promise. He stood up and offered her his hand. “Can I buy you some dinner?”
She got up but dropped his hand as they walked toward the parking lot. He raised a brow. “My pants are still on.”
She chuckled. “He could be watching us.”
“Fuck him.” He offered his hand again.
She stared at it, then up at him. “Making him even angrier may not be wise.”
“He doesn’t get to control us. That’s what he wants.” She didn’t move. He shook his head. “Angry people make mistakes.”
She searched his eyes and took his hand. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
“Food first.”
Her laughter soothed the beast inside him as he scanned the area. This Jack asshole was going down. And Reed was going to be the one to do it.
But first he had to flush him out.
After a quick stop at his place to change clothes, Reed pulled into Geno’s parking lot. Erica grinned. “Best burgers in town.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” It was also busy and open. With any luck, he might see Jack if he was following them. And the bustling restaurant would help Reed stay focused. It had taken all his willpower to keep from getting physical at his place. He didn’t have any self-restraint left where Erica was concerned.
Reed held the door open for her, his hand at the back of her waist as he looked back at the parking lot over his shoulder.
Included in the papers Callie gave him was a picture of Jack picking up an award for his law firm. He was tall, with pale skin and ice-blue eyes, so Reed knew who to look for. Until he questioned him, he couldn’t be certain he burned the cantina, of course. But either way, Reed would make sure the guy never touched Erica again.