by Elle James
Squaring her shoulders, she braced herself for her next encounter with Mustang. With a deep breath Emily flung open the door, fully expecting to face the man who occupied all of her thoughts.
The room was empty.
A moment of panic flashed through her.
She hurried to the adjoining door into his room.
Mustang stepped in front of her.
“Did you miss me?”
She pressed a hand against his chest and let go of the breath she’d been holding, steadying herself. “No, of course not,” she lied.
“Do you always lose your breath walking across the room?”
Emily struggled to come up with some excuse for her reaction to thinking he’d gone.
“I just... I just...” She sighed. “Yes, I missed you.”
His lips twisted as he opened his arms. “Come here.”
She didn’t hesitate. She walked into his arms and rested her cheek against his chest. The steady sound of his heartbeat soothed her immediately. “I thought you’d left.”
“Sweetheart, I told you I wasn’t leaving you out of my sight.”
“But then you were gone,” she pointed out.
She stood in the circle of his arms inhaling the scent of his aftershave.
He had put on a polo shirt, tucked it into his jeans and combed his hair.
Even with all those lovely muscles covered, he felt like a solid brick wall.
He flexed his shoulders naturally.
Mustang settled a finger beneath her chin and tipped her head upward. “Hey, I’m not leaving you.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “I’m sticking with you, girl.”
“Promise?”
He nodded and lowered his face to brush his lips across hers.
Before he could lift his head, she captured his cheeks between her hands and stood on her toes to press her lips more firmly to his.
His hands slid up her back and cupped her head, bringing her closer to deepen the kiss.
When at last he lifted his head, he stared down into her eyes. “I shouldn’t have done that. But I’m not sorry.”
Emily shook her head. “I shouldn’t have kissed you back.”
A knock sounded on the door. “Emily?” Grace’s voice rang through the paneling.
Emily stepped back.
Mustang’s arms fell to his sides.
“I’m awake,” Emily said.
“Breakfast is ready, if you’d like to join us,” Grace said.
Emily stared into Mustang’s eyes. “I’ll be down in a moment.”
“Great. See you there,” Grace called out. Footsteps sounded, leading away from the door.
Emily took another slight step back. “We’d better go.”
Mustang hesitated. “Emily...”
Emily held up a hand. “Let’s just leave it here.”
He took a step closer. “What if I don’t want to leave it here?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We should go down.”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you,” Mustang said. “But I couldn’t help myself.
“Ditto.” Emily shook her head. “It just...complicates things.”
He shoved a hand through his hair. “I get it. And your life is pretty complicated right now.”
Emily nodded.
He stared at Emily for a long moment. “Then let’s uncomplicate this. I’ll stay as far away as possible, as long as I can still be effective protecting you.” Mustang moved the chair away from the door, unlocked it and opened the door. “After you.”
Emily led the way down the stairs and followed the sound of voices coming from the dining room. She wasn’t certain how Mustang would stay away from her, if he had to be right beside her to protect her. And she didn’t want him to go far. Not with all that had happened. He was her rock in a turbulent sea. She wasn’t combat trained and she didn’t have any self-defense skills to fight off an attacker.
* * *
DECLAN, GRACE, CHARLIE and Arnold the butler were there. Sitting around the dining table. Plates of sausage, eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast lined the middle of the table. Emily’s stomach rumbled. She hadn’t realized just how hungry she was.
“Glad you could join us,” Charlie said. “I trust you slept well?”
Emily didn’t bother to tell Charlie about her bad dream or the fact that Mustang had slept with her. Instead she nodded as she took a seat beside Grace. Mustang sat next to Emily.
“Are you still good with the plan we have for today?” Declan asked.
Emily glanced around at the others at the table. “I am. I have a class to teach today. After that I’d like to go with you to talk to the private investigator.”
“I had Cole run a background investigation on your private investigator. We didn’t find anything unusual. He did do some time in the military in the NCIS.” Declan nodded. “What time do you think you will be done with your class?”
“I should be finished by noon.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea for you to be walking around the city. Especially since we don’t know who is trying to attack you,” Declan said.
“I can’t just hide away and wait until my problem goes away,” Emily said.
“You put yourself at risk.” Declan nodded to Mustang. “I’m not sure one bodyguard will be enough.”
“I hate that anybody has to be my bodyguard,” Emily admitted.
“I’m sure you didn’t ask to be attacked,” Mustang said.
“Well, we don’t mind providing your protection,” Charlie said. “The local police are investigating, but it’s clear whoever is after you is persistent and resourceful.”
“As long as the boss lady says so, we’ll provide that protection,” Declan told her.
“Correction, I’ll be here whether the boss lady says so or not,” Mustang said.
Tears welled in Emily’s eyes. “Thank you all. I feel so much safer just knowing that you have my back.”
“That goes for all of us,” Grace said. “We’re here for you, Emily.”
Emily scooped eggs onto her plate, a piece of bacon and a piece of toast. And then she watched as Mustang loaded his plate with eggs, toast, hash browns, sausage and bacon. And proceeded to consume all.
She picked at her breakfast and drank a small glass of orange juice before she finally pushed her plate away and scooted her chair from the table. “I need to go by my apartment before I go to the university.”
Mustang shoved the last bite of his toast into his mouth before pushing back from the table and standing. “I’m ready to go.”
“Do you want us to go with you?” Grace said, glancing over at Declan.
“No, I think it will be enough of a disturbance to have one bodyguard in the classroom along with the rest of the students,” Emily said, shooting a glance at Mustang.
The former marine would have every student in the classroom wondering why he was there and if he was single. At least the female students. And half of the male students, as well.
“I’ll have your car towed to the body shop,” Charlie told Emily.
“Thank you.” Emily smiled at Charlie. “You’ve already done so much for me. I’m sure insurance will help with the repairs, if the car is not totaled.”
“My guy’s a good repairman,” Charlie said. “I’ll have him give me an estimate.”
“Either way,” Emily conceded, “I’ll be out of a vehicle at least for a couple of weeks. I guess I’d better look into a rental car.”
Mustang frowned. “I don’t know why you need a rental car as long as you have me. We’ll go in my truck.”
“You can’t be with me all the time,” Emily said.
“That’s exactly what I will be. With you. All the time.” Mustang crossed his arms over his chest. “Until we figu
re out who your attacker is, and we neutralize him, you’re with me 24/7.”
“Surely, you have a life of your own?” Emily said.
“Get this,” Mustang stressed. “You are my life. Period. Period. Period.”
Emily shook her head.
Mustang held up a hand. “Until we get this attacker in hand, you are my only job. We will eat, drink and sleep together as long as we need to.”
Heat rushed into Emily’s cheeks and she glanced around the room at the others. Grace had a half smile tugging at her lips.
Declan nodded, a serious look on his face. “Mustang’s right.”
Grace nodded. “He is. We’ll all feel better if he’s with you 24/7.”
“And we’ll add additional bodyguards as needed,” Charlie offered.
“It seems like so much trouble,” Emily said.
Mustang held up his hand again. “End of argument,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”
Emily valued her independence, but what they were saying was right. She needed them until they found the attacker and put him away. She nodded. “All right. But no entourage. Just Mustang and me. I’m ready. Let’s go.”
* * *
MUSTANG MADE EMILY wait at the door as he stepped outside. He searched the surrounding area quickly before ushering her out to his truck. He used his body as a shield between her and any potential threat. When he had her settled in the passenger seat, he closed the door and rounded the front of the vehicle to climb into the driver’s seat.
With Emily’s direction, he maneuvered through the traffic of DC to Arlington, where her apartment was located. When they arrived at her building, he pulled into the parking lot slowly, his gaze scanning the immediate surroundings.
“You can wait in the truck while I go inside and gather a few things,” Emily said.
“Nope,” Mustang said. “We’re both going in.” He shifted one hand under his jacket where he kept his Glock in a shoulder holster. Then he dropped down from the truck, rounded to the other side, opened the door and helped Emily to the ground. He kept her in the curve of his other arm, protecting her with his body as they hurried toward the apartment building.
When they stopped in front of her apartment, Emily fumbled with her key until she finally got it into the lock, twisted it and opened the door.
Mustang kept Emily from walking in by placing a hand on her arm. He drew his weapon and pushed the door wider. After a quick glance around the exterior of her apartment, he entered and tugged her in behind him.
Once inside, Mustang pulled the door closed behind Emily with a soft click. He pressed a finger to his lips, pointed to the corner by the door and then pointed at her. He mouthed the word Stay.
Emily frowned but nodded and took up her position in the corner.
Mustang would have preferred to clear her apartment before allowing her to enter, but he couldn’t leave her outside for fear somebody might attack her while he was busy searching the apartment. With no other choice, he’d had to bring her in and plant her by the front door while he cleared the rest of the apartment.
He entered the main living area, scanning for any sign of an intruder. The room was sparsely but tastefully furnished with a light gray, modern sofa, a white marble-topped coffee table with matching end tables on either side of the sofa, and a white leather chair and ottoman. Bright red, orange and turquoise pillows provided splashes of color to an otherwise gray-and-white interior. One wall contained an Impressionist painting of a summer wheat field with a bright blue sky. On another wall were black-and-white photographs of bridges, each had been enlarged and printed on canvas.
On an end table was a photograph of a family of three. Emily was front and center between an older man and woman. Mustang assumed they were her parents. He absorbed the decorations in a brief scan as he moved through the living room and into the kitchen. Once he was sure there weren’t any bogeys hiding behind the sofa or in the pantry, he entered the bedroom—a room as different from the living room as night was to day. In this room, the bed was covered in a blush pink comforter with a stack of fluffy pillows pushed up against a white-cushioned headboard. The dresser was of a light, whitewashed wood with brushed, stainless-steel pulls.
The painting hanging over the bed was of a young girl wearing an old-fashioned hat and a long white dress. She was carrying a basketful of wildflowers. The entire room was utterly feminine and what he would have expected of Emily. Soft...delicate...and vulnerable. His chest tightened. Mustang didn’t like that she was being targeted. He vowed to keep her safe, no matter the cost to himself.
There weren’t too many places a person could hide. But he checked them all, looking under the bed, in the closet and behind the shower curtain. When he was convinced there were no other people in the apartment besides him and Emily he called out, “All clear.”
Emily entered the bedroom and stared across the floor at him. “Do I have to worry about every place I go?”
Mustang nodded. “Afraid so.”
Emily’s frown was more sad than angry. She made quick work of finding a small suitcase and stuffing it full of clothes that she might need for the next week. She entered the bathroom and collected toiletries, putting them into a smaller case that fit within her suitcase. When she finished, she zipped the case, lifted it off the bed and set it on the floor. “I just need to gather my book bag and then I’ll be ready to go.”
Back in the living room she gathered a stack of papers, shoved them into a satchel and looped the strap of the bag over her shoulder.
Mustang carried her suitcase to the door and waited patiently.
Emily’s gaze swept the apartment, ending up connecting with Mustang’s. “I don’t like it.”
Mustang nodded. “I understand. Nobody likes it when their personal space is invaded. Or even if their personal space has the risk of being invaded.”
Emily shivered. “I feel like I have to be looking over my shoulder every step I take.”
“And that’s exactly what you have to do. Until we find the attacker,” Mustang said.
She squared her shoulders and marched toward the door. “Then let’s go. I have a class to teach.”
Once again, Mustang was out the door first, checking the parking lot for any vehicles that may have arrived while they were inside or any people that looked suspect. When he felt certain all was clear, he looped his arm around Emily’s shoulder, pulled her close to his body and guided her toward the truck.
For the next thirty minutes he contended with DC traffic to get Emily to the university in time for her class to begin. Once they arrived on campus, Mustang parked the truck in a parking garage and went around to let Emily out. They arrived at her classroom with no interference.
Mustang was surprised by the size of the space. It wasn’t so much a classroom as it was an auditorium, albeit a small one, with about two dozen students seated among the one hundred or more chairs.
They entered from the back of the auditorium.
Emily paused and touched a hand to his arm. “I’d prefer if you stayed in the back,” she whispered. “Having a stranger in the classroom is enough of a distraction with you being in my face or following me everywhere.”
He frowned, studying the room of students. “Do you recognize all of these people?”
She nodded. “All have been in my class from the beginning of the semester.” Emily smiled. “They aren’t here to hurt me. They’re here to learn to speak Russian.”
Mustang didn’t like that she would be all the way across the room from him. “Is there another door leading into the room near the front?”
Emily shook her head. “Only the ones here at the rear of the classroom.” She glanced at the double doors. “I’d feel safer and more comfortable if you guarded the doors rather than guarding me.”
“Are these all of the students?” he asked. “Are you expecting mor
e?”
She nodded. “I have exactly twenty-five students. I did a quick count. They’re all here.” She nodded toward a young man standing near the front of the class. “The student standing is my teacher’s assistant. He’s enrolled in the masters-level program. He will help me to administer the test.”
After one more glance around the room at the students, Mustang nodded. “Okay. But if I say ‘hit the ground,’ I expect you to drop to your belly.” He gave her a fierce glance. “Got that?”
She held up her hand as if swearing an oath, the corners of her lips quirking. “Got it.”
“Okay then, go teach.” He stood in front of the door, his arms crossed over his chest. He wouldn’t allow anyone else to enter the room without going through him. And if one of the students tried to make a move on Emily, Mustang could be across the room in seconds.
For the next hour Emily conducted a last-minute review, speaking in Russian and in English.
Mustang was entranced by her smooth, sexy voice and the way the Russian language rolled off her lips as if she’d been born to speak it.
If he had only been mildly attracted to her before, he now found himself completely under her spell.
By the look of some of the male students, they were equally captivated. The woman was smart, sexy, and didn’t appear to be much older than her students. Some raised their hands and asked questions. She responded with a smile and clearly enunciated words. Emily knew her stuff. No wonder she was in demand as an interpreter.
After the hour was over, she asked her students to put away their books and get out their pencils.
Her teacher’s assistant handed out the scanner test forms while Emily distributed the actual tests, face-down.
Once each student had a form and a test, Emily walked to the front of the class, glanced at her watch and then looked up. “You have one hour to complete the test. You may begin.”
For the next hour the students worked through their tests at their own paces. By the end of the hour, they trickled up to the front of the room, handed over their completed forms and the test, and left, walking past Mustang as they went. Male and female students only gave him a brief glance as they exited. They appeared to be deep in thought, as if second-guessing their answers.