Kitabı oxu: «Tempted By The Bodyguard»

Chapter 5

Maddie climbed the steps as quickly and with as much agility as a woman half her age.

Tired and still recuperating from her ordeal in the basement, Shelby wasn’t going to complain about the stairs. She held on to the railing and climbed, wishing she could find a nice soft bed to fall into.

“You’ll have the blue guest room,” Maddie was saying. “On account of it’s the most feminine of the rooms. Your grandfather will be staying in the brown room.” She stopped and threw open the door to a room decorated in creams and browns. The bed was made from intricately carved burled wood. The mattress was covered with a cream duvet and pillows in various shades from cream to a rich, dark chocolate. In one corner stood a deep brown leather wing-back chair and a burled wood table with a wrought iron and stained glass reading lamp. Wide windows gave them a view out of the back of the house.

Directly below was a swimming pool, the water rippling in the breeze, sun sparkling off its surface.

Shelby blinked her eyes at the intensity of the sunlight. After days spent in complete darkness, it would take time before she got used to light again.

Beyond the pool lay an expansive garden and neatly trimmed grass. Trees shaded the edges of the lawn and made Shelby long to walk among them. She had to stop herself from exclaiming over the beauty of the room, the house and the surrounding grounds. O’Hara’s Bar and Grill on the Outer Banks was nothing to compare with the elegance and luxury of the Winston Estate.

Her grandfather stood beside her, his lips pressed into a thin line, the dark circles beneath his eyes more pronounced.

Maddie chattered on, “There’s a private bathroom through this door and it’s fully equipped with towels and toiletries. If you should need anything that isn’t provided, let me know.” She faced Patrick, her smile fading. “Is something wrong?”

Patrick forced a smile. “Nothing at all. This will be fine.”

Shelby could tell by the tightness of his jaw that everything was not fine. She could bet what was going through his mind. He was probably comparing their home over the bar to the Winston Estate and coming up short. She slipped her arm around him and squeezed. “Think of it as a fancy hotel. We won’t be here long,” she whispered.

He nodded and squared his shoulders. “The main thing is to keep you safe. Come on, let’s see your digs.” He winked and stepped out of the beautiful room.

Maddie crossed the hallway and opened another room. “This is the blue room where you will be staying, Miss O’Hara.” She led the way in and crossed to another door. “You have your own walk-in closet and bathroom. Mrs. Winston is having additional clothing delivered this afternoon. If there’s anything in particular you’d like her to include, just let me or Debra know and we’ll add it to the order.”

Shelby raised her hand. “Wait. What’s this about clothes?” She shook her head. “I don’t need clothes. I have my own.”

“Mrs. Winston wanted you to have anything you might need brought here.”

Shelby glanced around at the soft blue-gray painted walls, the gauzy white curtains and the beautiful driftwood-style white headboard. The room was too beautiful. Too pristine. All light and clean. Almost sterile. Had she traded a dark hell of a prison in a basement for a lighter, beautiful cage so foreign to everything she’d known and grown up with? “I’d rather have my own clothing. Please thank Mrs. Winston. But as soon as I can, I’ll go get my own.”

Maddie smiled and nodded. “I completely understand. I’ll have someone sent out to collect whatever you want from your home.”

Shelby bit down on her tongue, wanting to tell the woman what she thought of someone else digging through her drawers in her tiny bedroom above the bar. But to do so would be attacking an older woman with an open, honest, welcoming face who was only doing what she was ordered to do.

Shelby squeezed out a smile. “Thank you, Maddie. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower.”

“Oh, dear. After all you’ve gone through, you should soak in the whirlpool bathtub.” Maddie opened the door to the bathroom and stepped inside with more purpose than Shelby expected from a seventysomething-year-old woman.

Before she could say anything different, the woman had the water running into the tub, bath salts and bubbles sprinkled in the water and towels laid along the polished granite edge.

“Do you need help out of those clothes?” Maddie asked as she advanced toward Shelby.

Shelby backed away. “No, no. I’m quite capable of undressing myself.”

A chuckle sounded from behind her. She turned to see where it had come from.

Her grandfather stood beside Daniel, a grin spread across his face.

Daniel’s face gave no indication of what he was thinking. But was that a twitch she saw at the corner of his mouth, and were his eyes twinkling? The man’s face lit, making her insides flip. He was too good-looking for her own good.

Shelby squared her shoulders. “If everyone doesn’t mind, I’d like a little privacy.”

“Certainly, Miss O’Hara.”

Not at all used to the formality and slightly irritated by it, Shelby insisted, “Please, call me Shelby.”

The older woman smiled. “Shelby.” Maddie waved Patrick and Daniel toward the door. “Now, you two shoo. Give the girl some space.”

Patrick hugged Shelby. “I’m going to take a shower and then I want to speak with Kate. Don’t worry about coming down. Take a nap or a long soak in the bath. After all you’ve been through, I’m sure it’ll feel great.”

When she didn’t let go right away, he pushed her gently to arm’s length. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be downstairs should you need me for anything.”

She let go of her grandfather, not wanting him out of her sight for even a second. “I missed you,” she whispered.

He nodded. “I know. And I missed you, too.” He turned and left, his eyes suspiciously bright.

Daniel stood inside the room. “I’m not leaving until I check out the room.”

Maddie frowned. “Oh, yes. Of course. One cannot be too careful.”

Shelby watched as Daniel checked the huge walk-in closet and the bathroom where the water ran in the bathtub and bubbles formed on its surface. Back in the bedroom, he dropped to his haunches and checked beneath the bed.

“Looking for the boogeyman?” Shelby taunted.

He straightened, his broad shoulders making the room seem so much smaller. “It’s my job.”

A twang of regret tugged at her belly. She was just a job to him. Not that she cared. When she left the Winston Estate, she’d forget about him before she drove off the grounds.

Liar.

How could she forget looking into his face when he’d carried her from the burning home? She’d thought he was her guardian angel.

Now he was just another reminder of the threat to her and of her need to be aware and ready should someone try to kidnap her again.

“Are you finished?” she asked.

“No.” He nodded toward the door on the other side of her room. “You need to leave that door unlocked.”

Shelby frowned. “I would think you’d want me to lock all doors. Why not this one?” She walked toward it. “Is it another closet? Because if it is, I don’t have enough shoes in my entire collection to fill it.”

She jerked open the door to another bedroom. The walls were painted a rich cream with white crown molding. A king-size bed stood on one side of the room with a simple ebony headboard and matching nightstand. In a corner near a floor-to-ceiling window, a black lounge chair sat beneath a wrought iron floor lamp. The artwork on the walls showed black-and-white images of river and lake scenes.

Shelby frowned and turned back toward Maddie. “I don’t need two rooms, you know. There’s only one of me.”

Daniel’s lips twitched unmistakably this time. “That’s not another room for you.”

“Then who is it for?” Even as she said the words, a warm shiver rippled across Shelby’s body and her pulse beat a rapid staccato against her eardrums.

Maddie answered, “Mrs. Winston asked Daniel to move his things from the guest house into the main house to be closer to you. He’ll be staying in the room adjoining yours.”

Shelby’s heart flipped and slammed into her ribs. How could she sleep knowing Daniel would be in the room next to her? The man exuded testosterone the way flowers gave off fragrance.

She opened her mouth to protest, but Maddie had turned her back and was headed out the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on supper.” Maddie left the room, hurrying down the hallway.

Shelby was left alone with her bodyguard.

Daniel fought the grin threatening to overtake his entire face. He found that he liked tormenting the young woman. The color rising in her cheeks and her flashing blue eyes made him want to grab her and kiss her before she walked away.

Shelby’s mouth sagged open and then snapped shut. “I’m sorry, but this arrangement is not acceptable.”

“I normally stay in the guest house at night. Mrs. Winston thinks it would be better for me to stay closer, especially since the bombing this afternoon.” Daniel crossed his arms over his chest. “Trust me, I’m no happier about the arrangement than you are. I much prefer solving crimes than babysitting spoiled heiresses.”

The pink in her cheeks deepened and she glared at him. “I’m not an heiress, and I’m not spoiled.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows challengingly without saying a word.

“I’m not.” Shelby stamped her foot and stared down at it, her eyes widening. “I’m not,” she repeated. This time, she didn’t stamp her foot. “I work hard, I support myself financially and I’m trying to further my education so that I can improve my skillset and my life.”

With her shoulders thrown back and her chest pushed out, she was a fiery goddess and far too attractive. Straightening his spine, he dismissed her with a soft snort. “Nice speech.” He turned away. “There are no monsters under your bed at this time. Please, enjoy your bath.” He walked to the connecting door and turned in the threshold. “If you need me, all you have to do is call out my name.” His lips quirked up at the corners as he pulled the door closed behind him.

“Jerk,” she said to the closed door.

“I heard that,” came his muffled response.

“I’d say it to your face,” she said, louder.

“I know.”

Alone and fuming over the bodyguard’s low opinion of her, Shelby considered throwing something at the door. One glance around frustrated her even more. She’d feel guilty if she broke any of the fine porcelain statues or if she ruined the pretty white lacy pillows.

The sound of running water reminded her of the bath. Shelby turned away from the connecting door and hurried to shut off the water before it overflowed the enormous gleaming white bathtub. For the moment, she ignored the bath, stripped out of her clothing and stepped into the granite-lined shower that was big enough for two people.

As soon as that thought crossed her mind, she envisioned a naked Daniel standing beside her under the second showerhead, water running over broad muscles and down tight abs. Her body heated and she switched the handle back toward cold.

What was it about him that made her feel off-balance and out of whack? Then again, everything about her current situation did that. But Daniel’s insistence on being close had her more on edge than anything else. She could put up with living in the mansion for the short-term, and even wanted to get to know her uncles. But the bodyguard made her skin twitch and places low in her belly ache for something she had never ached for in the past.

Sure, she’d had her share of experimenting with sex with men her own age, but none of them seemed as raw and dangerous as Daniel.

After she’d cleaned her body with scented soap, she scrubbed her hair with herbal-scented shampoo, applied conditioner, rinsed and climbed out of the shower.

The tub full of water and bubbles called to her, the soft-scented bath salts filling the air with subtle fragrance. What would it hurt to soak for a while? After being tied to a chair for the better part of the past two weeks, stretching out in warm, perfumed water sounded like pure heaven.

Wrapping her hair in a large fluffy towel, she pressed the button on the side of the tub that activated the jets lining the sides. The water roiled, creating more bubbles. Shelby slid into the warm water and stretched her legs along the bottom of the tub, positioning herself in front of strategic jets and redistributing the bubbles to cover herself should anyone walk in uninvited.

Again, her core tightened and throbbed.

If she called out from the bathroom, would Daniel hear her through two doors? Her nipples peaked through the bubbles. Why couldn’t she get the man off her mind? Daniel had told her he wasn’t thrilled with his assignment. He obviously wasn’t interested in her or the fact that she was naked in the room beside his.

Shelby lay still, letting the jets and warm water do their thing to relax her and let the soreness of two weeks of captivity leach from her muscles. With her eyes closed, she pushed all thoughts out of her head except for the amazing way her body felt. She leaned back and let go of a long sigh.

Moments later, sleep claimed her and she slipped into the nightmare.

She was back in the parking lot at the college, juggling her books to get her key out. Dark figures floated out of the trees and surrounded her, shoving her into the dark interior of a van.

A hand clamped over her mouth, stifling her scream. She struggled, but couldn’t break the hold on her arms. Shelby kicked out, but only hit air and water.

Her mouth and nose covered by meaty fingers, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t get air to her lungs and felt herself blacking out.

A moan rose up her throat. One of the men backhanded her cheek. Another moan escaped and she thrashed, trying to break the hold on her.

Then strong arms scooped her up and carried her away from the van.

She fought the arms, kicking, struggling, desperate to get away and back to her grandfather.

“Shh…it’s okay,” a deep male voice whispered into her ear. “Open your eyes, Shelby.”

“It won’t help. It’s dark,” she muttered.

The arms lowered her into a bed so soft, she felt as if she floated on clouds. It wrapped around her, warming her wet body.

“Shelby, open your eyes.” A hand smoothed across her cheek.

She winced, afraid of being hit again. “My eyes are open,” she insisted.

“No, they’re not,” the voice said. A thumb brushed gently across her eyelid. “Look at me.”

Shelby blinked, her eyelids fluttering. Light filtered through her lashes as she focused on the face leaning over her. She wasn’t in the parking lot of the university, but in a bed. She’d fallen asleep.

A glow from behind illuminated the highlights in his dark blond hair. Moss-green eyes stared down at her and he wore a gentle smile on his face. “See? You’re safe. You were having a bad dream.”

She leaned her face into his shoulder, breathing in the clean scent of his shirt. Her hands pressed into the solid wall of his chest and she felt safe and protected.

He held her, his warm hand stroking her back, skin against skin. After a while he stiffened and set her away from him. “This isn’t a good idea.”

Without his warm chest to lean against, a cool air-conditioned breeze brushed across her skin and she glanced down. The remaining fog of sleep whipped away and she pushed to a sitting position. “Holy hell, I’m naked!” She grabbed the comforter and pulled it up over her body. “Explain yourself,” she demanded in the commanding tone she only used when she had to evict a rowdy customer from the bar.

The bodyguard chuckled, straightened and stood. “Let’s get something straight, little girl—I never explain myself.” He trailed a finger along the curve of her shoulder. “You might want to dry off with a towel. And next time you take a bath while recovering from a concussion, don’t fall asleep. I’ll do my best to protect you from bad guys, but unless you want me to be with you in your bathtub, I can’t always protect you from drowning.”

Daniel retreated to his room. As soon as he closed the door between them, he heard a soft whomp against the door. Probably a thrown pillow. He smiled.

“I’m not a little girl!” she shouted, the sound muffled by the door.

No, she wasn’t a little girl. When he’d carried her wet, sexy body to the bed, he’d been more than aware of that fact. And he was glad he’d left her mad instead of terrified, as she’d been when he’d found her, thrashing in the tub, splashing water over the sides, deep in a nightmare.

She must have been reliving her kidnapping and captivity. Kept in a basement in the dark for two weeks had to have played hell with her mind, not knowing who was holding her, what they had planned for her or if she’d ever see her family again.

Lucy, Thad’s nurse fiancée, had been to his room, removed the pieces of shrapnel lodged in his back and applied antiseptic ointment.

He’d just dressed after showering off the stench of smoke from the day before, when he’d heard her soft moans. At first, he’d thought the sound was the wind in the trees. When the moans continued and grew louder, he’d pushed through the connecting door, afraid she was under attack again and that he wouldn’t get to her in time to save her.

He’d run into the bathroom and found her caught in a terrifying dream after having fallen asleep in the bath. He’d reached in and scooped her out, holding her naked body against his.

She’d fought, kicking and wiggling, her breasts rubbing against his knuckles, her thighs straining against his hold, and he’d been so turned on by the sight of her body he could barely walk with her into the bedroom and lay her on the bed.

When he should have set her down and walked away, he couldn’t. He’d stayed, holding her, his pants growing tighter by the minute.

Then she’d leaned into his chest, pressing her breasts against his shirt, her fingers curling into the fabric, holding him hostage.

Hell, he’d wanted to strip down and climb onto the bed with her.

Daniel paced the length of his room, his leg aching, the walls seeming to close in around him. He wasn’t cut out to be a bodyguard to a woman like Shelby. The Secret Service was his life. He’d been all about the job, training hard, putting his life on the line daily. But this… Being with her constantly would only create more problems. He had to get Kate to see reason, assign someone else. Anyone but him.

His mind made up, Daniel unbuttoned the damp white dress shirt and ripped it from his shoulders, the scent of Shelby still clinging to him. How could he protect a woman he wanted to kiss, hold and make love to? She’d keep him distracted every moment of every day.

He pulled a black polo shirt over his head and tucked it into his pants. Then he marched toward the door and threw it open.

Patrick O’Hara walked toward him, his face drawn and haggard. When he spied Daniel, he smiled. “Mr. Henderson.”

“Daniel,” he said. “Call me Daniel.”

Patrick held out his hand. “I want to thank you again for saving my granddaughter from that burning house.” He shook his head, tears welling in his eyes. “That girl means more to me than anything. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost her.”

Daniel took his hand, prepared to shake it, but was pulled into a firm hug.

“Thank you,” Patrick said over his shoulder. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for her and for taking care of her now.”

Guilt rose up in Daniel’s chest. “You’re welcome, but you don’t have to thank me. I’d have done it for anyone in the same situation.”

Patrick gripped his arms and held him at arm’s length. “But it was Shelby, and for that, I’ll be forever in your debt.” The older man dropped his hands and stepped back. “I’m sorry, but for two weeks, I thought she was gone for good.” He scrubbed his hand through his graying hair. “You’ve given her back to me.” Patrick straightened. “Thank you.”

Made uncomfortable by all the emotion in the man’s face, Daniel cleared his throat. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on something.” Leaving Shelby’s grandfather in the hallway, he hurried down the stairs to the main level and went in search of Kate. She had to find someone else to be Shelby’s bodyguard.

His chest tightened when he stepped through the open door of Kate’s office.

Kate sat at her desk. Debra sat in a chair to the side with a computer tablet resting on her big belly, writing on it with a stylus.

“I rescheduled your appearance at North Carolina State, apologizing for the inconvenience. They were understanding and concerned about today’s bombing.”

Kate looked as smooth and together as she normally did. “I want you to cancel all my meetings for today. I want to spend time getting to know my granddaughter.” She glanced up. “Daniel, good. I wanted to speak with you.” She turned to Debra. “Do you mind?”

Debra rose with a smile. “I’ll go make those calls.” She left the room, closing the door behind her.

“Please, Daniel, have a seat.”

He crossed the floor, but veered toward the window instead of the chair. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather stand.”

Kate nodded and pushed back, rising to stand beside him.

For a long moment, neither said a word.

Kate sighed. “It never ceases to amaze me that while our lives are so chaotic and stressful, the world around us continues on. The trees produce leaves, the sun shines and the birds sing.” She laid a hand on his arm. “What’s troubling you, Daniel?”

“I want you to find another bodyguard for your granddaughter.” He hadn’t planned on blurting it out like that, but there it was.

Kate’s hand dropped to her side and she faced him. “Are you worried you might take another bullet?” She stared at him. “I will understand. You’ve put yourself on the line for me already and have the injuries to prove it. I know it’s wrong of me to ask you to do it again.”

Daniel shook his head. “It’s not that. I’m not afraid of being shot at.”

“Are you afraid you aren’t recovered enough to do the job?”

“No.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “I’m not afraid of the job. I just don’t think I’m the right man to protect her.”

Kate snorted softly. “You’re the only man I trust to protect her. You threw yourself in front of a shooter to save my life. Your dedication to duty and your selfless disregard for your own life make you the only person I know of who could protect Shelby the way she needs to be protected.” Kate touched his arm again. “Please, Daniel. If she truly is my daughter’s daughter, I owe her and her mother, God rest her soul, my promise to protect her.”

“Do you have any doubt she’s your granddaughter?” Daniel asked, staring down into the bright blue eyes so like Shelby’s.

The former vice president’s eyes misted. “I thought my daughter was dead. I never would have given her up willingly.” She hung her head and turned away, her voice thick. “That was the darkest moment of my life. I didn’t want to live.”

Daniel’s heart squeezed at the raw emotion.

Kate spun back toward him, tears trembling on her lashes. “I’ll do anything to protect her. I want her to know how much I loved her mother, how much I could love her and how much I want to be a part of her life.” She reached out to him, taking his hand. “Daniel, please help me to keep her safe. I’ve only just found her. I don’t want to lose her.”

Daniel didn’t want to be affected by her plea, but he was. This woman was strong, gutsy and willing to take on any political battle to right a wrong. And when it came to her family, she’d lay down her own life to protect them. She was a real, genuine, good person and it seemed there were too few of those to go around. Especially in the world of politics.

Kate let go of his hand. “Of course, if you feel that strongly, I’ll find someone else. But I won’t feel as confident that he’ll protect her like I know you will.”

Daniel turned back to the window. The trees were still green, the sun was shining and nothing out there had changed. As Kate had said, the world would continue on despite their problems.

If he left Kate to find another bodyguard, she’d worry that her granddaughter wouldn’t have the protection she needed. Whether or not that was true, Daniel couldn’t disappoint Kate. And now that he’d saved her from a burning building and possibly from drowning in her bath, he had a responsibility to keep Shelby alive.

Would he trust someone else to be there when she needed him? And the thought of another bodyguard rushing in to save her when she lay naked in a bath didn’t sit right with him.

“Daniel?”

He drew in a deep breath and turned. “Don’t worry. I’ll do the job.”

Chapter 6

Shelby dressed in the same outfit she’d worn from the hospital, provided by her grandmother. The feel of luxurious cashmere beat the heck out of the blouse she’d worn for two weeks straight, but it still made her uncomfortable, knowing someone else had purchased the garments for her.

She was not a charity case, and she refused to be treated as such. More determined than ever to reclaim the life that had been interrupted so brutally, Shelby stepped out of the room and went in search of her grandfather.

She knocked on the door across the hall. After a moment, when there was no answer, she turned toward the staircase.

Before she took one step, a low sexy voice asked, “Going somewhere?”

Shelby gasped as a shadow detached itself from the wall beside the staircase and Daniel stepped into the light.

“Don’t do that,” she exclaimed, pressing a hand to her racing heart.

He spread his arms wide, all innocence. “Do what?”

“Scare me like that.” She braced herself as she faced the man who’d upended her self-control and left her head spinning and desire rising like molten lava through the vent of a volcano. Heat rose up her cheeks as she recalled his hand stroking along her naked back and clamped around her rib cage and thighs as he’d carried her to her bed. The man had seen more of her than a bodyguard should ever see, and it made her hot all over knowing it. Why did he have to be so darned handsome and aggravating at the same time?

She pushed past him and marched toward the stairs. “I’m looking for my grandfather.”

“He was headed into Mrs. Winston’s office a moment ago. I’m sure he’s still there. Is there something I can help you with?”

“No. I’m quite capable of helping myself.”

“Good enough.” He fell in step behind her.

She could feel the heat of his gaze burning into the back of her neck. Halfway down the stairs, she stopped and turned. “Do you have to follow me everywhere?”

“Yup,” he said with too much cheer in his voice. “It’s my job.”

“Really? Inside this big ol’ house I would think I’d be safe enough to walk around on my own.”

“As you mentioned, it’s a big house. I have to stay with you, just in case.”

Shelby blew a sharp burst of air through her nose like a bull in a fighting ring. “Are you always this irritating?”

“No.” He grinned. “Sometimes I can be even more irritating…when I try.”

She turned and walked two more steps down.

He followed.

She stopped, then he stopped.

Giving up, she hurried down the steps. When she reached the bottom, she heard voices coming from one side of the open entryway. One of them sounded like her grandfather. She headed that direction, slowing when she came close to the half-closed door.

Shelby paused, her hand reaching out but not pushing the door open.

“I told you, I didn’t know our daughter was alive,” Kate Winston was saying. “If I had known, I’d have gone after her. I loved her, and I was devastated when I was told she’d died.”

“So devastated you didn’t bother to verify that she really was dead?” Her grandfather sounded angry, disappointed and sad.

Shelby wanted to go to him and wrap her arms around him. The man had given her so much love and understanding all her life. She loved him so much and couldn’t stand to see him sad or angry.

Shelby started to open the door when Kate’s voice said softly, “My mother told me she’d died when she was born. I had no reason to think she’d lie. Whatever you might think, my mother loved me.”

“You didn’t bother to see the body for yourself?”

“I was in no condition to. I was heartbroken. After carrying her for nine months, to lose her like that… The doctors gave me a sedative. I don’t remember much of anything the first week after she…was born.”

“I find it very hard to believe.”

“Believe what you want,” Kate said, her voice growing more firm. “The fact is, I didn’t get the chance to know my daughter and I’d give anything to have had that time with her. Now that I’ve found Shelby, I won’t give up the chance to get to know my granddaughter.”

“And you’ll have time in your busy political schedule to get to know her? Rumor has it you are being groomed to run for president.”

“It’s true. But my family is more important than anything else. That includes Shelby.”

“What if she doesn’t want to get to know you?” her grandfather asked.

“Whatever our differences, I hope you will give her the choice.”

“Shelby has a mind of her own. It will be up to her. I trust you will abide by her wishes.”

Kate hesitated, then answered softly, “I will.”

“You’re eavesdropping.” Daniel’s warm breath stirred the hairs along the side of Shelby’s neck.

A delicious shiver rippled down her spine and she squeezed her eyes shut. Then she stiffened her back, opened her eyes and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Kate called.

Shelby pushed the door open and entered.

Shelby’s grandfather stood in the middle of the room. Kate stood behind her desk, as if using it as a shield. The air sizzled with their energy.

“Ah, Shelby, we were just discussing you.” Kate rounded the desk and crossed to her, holding out her hands. “Are you feeling better? I can have a doctor stop by and check you over, if you’d like.”

Shelby ignored the woman’s outstretched hands. “I don’t need a doctor.”

Kate’s arms fell to her sides and she smiled, though the effort looked forced. “I had Debra order clothes for you, but Maddie said you refused and wanted me to cancel. Is something wrong?”

“Yes. I’m not used to people ordering for me, doing things for me or otherwise running my life.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I just wanted you to feel welcome and comfortable after what you’ve been through.” Kate turned to Shelby’s grandfather. “I can’t imagine what you both went through.”

Shelby closed her eyes and opened them again when they reminded her of being in the dark for so long. “I’m not fragile and I’m not going to fall apart, so, please, don’t treat me like I will. I want to put it behind me and get on with my life.”

“Of course.” Kate’s smile grew, becoming more natural. “Your grandfather was telling me you had a mind of your own. You remind me of him when he was eighteen.” Her gaze softened and she cast a glance at Patrick. He didn’t look away, their gazes seeming to connect as if with a shared memory. For a moment, they both appeared much younger than they were. It struck a chord in Shelby. Could it be there was still a spark left between them after forty years?

Pushing the thought aside, Shelby said, “I’d like to get back into my life, starting today.”

Kate’s brows rose. “So soon?”

Shelby’s grandfather stepped forward. “Don’t you want to take another day to recuperate?”

Shelby shook her head. “I can’t sit around and do nothing. I’m two weeks behind in my schoolwork and I need to talk with my instructors to see what I can do to catch up.”

“I know how important school is to you, Shelby.” Her grandfather touched her arm. “But you’ve been through a lot.”

Shelby held up her hand. “Enough. If one more person says I’ve been through a lot, I’ll explode. The only way I can put this all behind me is to move forward, get back into my life and live it.” She glanced at her grandfather. “You know me. I’m no good at sitting around.”

Her grandfather smiled. “No, you’re not.”

“I need my books, class notes, assignments and my own clothes.”

“I’ll have someone sent out right away,” Kate said.

“No. I’m going myself. I need to check on my car and talk to my instructors. If I hurry, I might catch them before they leave for the day.”

“But is it safe for you to go?” Kate looked to Daniel.

His lips pressed into a straight line. “I can be with her every step of the way.”

“You can take one of the cars,” Kate offered.

Shelby put her foot down, determined to do it her way. “No, I won’t be chauffeured around in a limousine.”

“I need to go out to the bar and check on things there,” Patrick said. “We can go in my vehicle.”

“How long will you be staying?” Daniel asked.

Patrick scratched his chin. “I’m not sure.”

“Then I’ll take her in my vehicle. She needs to be at the Winston Estate at night. The security is tighter here.”

Patrick nodded. “Fair enough.” He stared at Shelby. “Do you want me to follow you to the university?”

“No, Granddad. I’ll be fine with Daniel.” Much as she hated admitting it, she felt protected with her bodyguard around. “You need to check on things back home.”

His bar was his livelihood. He needed to be there to manage and keep it running as smoothly as possible. Shelby wondered how much time he’d spent away from it while she’d been missing. Probably more than the staff could handle on their own.

As if reading her mind, her grandfather reassured her, “The staff has been taking care of things fine without me, but I want to make sure they don’t need any more supplies.”

“Go on.” She squeezed his hand. “I’ll be okay.”

Her grandfather hugged her. “Don’t go disappearing on me again. I can’t lose you twice. My old heart can’t go through that again.”

“Like you’re old.” Shelby snorted. “You were a kid when my mother was born, and my mother was a kid when I was born. That makes you pretty young for a grandfather.”

And Kate Winston looked too young to be a grandmother. Perhaps if she’d been old and gray, Shelby would have been more accepting of her. But she was too darned young and looked every bit the formidable political candidate.

Before she’d learned Mrs. Winston was her grandmother, she’d admired her as the former vice president and had hoped she’d run for president. Now…

Shelby sighed. She had a hard time believing the woman hadn’t known her daughter was alive. What mother didn’t go to her daughter’s funeral or ask to see her daughter, even if she was dead?

The jury was still out on Grandma Winston. The thought of calling her Grandma nearly made Shelby laugh out loud at the absurdity. “Come on. It’s quite a way to go to get to Beth City and I want to get there before all the professors go home.”

Daniel frowned. “Beth City?”

“You didn’t think I was going to school here in Raleigh, did you?” She smiled at his disapproval. “I live on the Outer Banks. Beth City was the nearest school with the master’s program I needed.”

“Do be careful,” Kate said. “We still don’t know who is responsible for taking you in the first place.”

“That’s why we’ll be taking the big guns, right?” Shelby rolled her eyes toward Daniel and then relented. “I’ll be okay. It’s broad daylight. I was abducted after dark in an empty parking lot. There will be students and faculty still milling about. If we get there before they all leave.” She headed for the door. “Come on, Granddad. Mr. Henderson and I will walk you to your truck.”

“I don’t know. I think I’d like it better if you stayed here and let someone else do your running around for you,” her grandfather said, second-guessing himself.

Shelby stopped in the middle of the room and propped her hands on her hips. “Let’s all get one thing straight.” Her gaze moved from one person to the next. “I did not escape one prison to be trapped in another. This estate is pretty and tastefully decorated, but if I can’t come and go, I might as well be in that basement in the dark, tied to a chair.” Her body shook with the force of a harsh tremor. “I can’t live like that.”

“But—” her grandfather started.

“Patrick,” Kate cut in. “Let her go. Daniel will take good care of her.”

Her grandfather glared at Kate. “You have three sons. Shelby is my only family. If I lose her…”

Shelby’s eyes stung at the anguish in her grandfather’s voice. She went to him and hugged him close. “You’re not going to lose me. I promise.” She turned back to Daniel. “And so does Daniel.”

Daniel’s brows furrowed and he stood tense, his hands balling into fists.

“Don’t you?” Shelby pleaded with her eyes.

Finally he relaxed his hands and he nodded. “I’ll do the best I can to keep her out of trouble.”

Shelby’s grandfather laughed. “You’ll have your hands full. That girl is as sweet as they come, but trouble seems to follow her wherever she goes.” He kissed Shelby’s forehead. “Okay, then. Go to school, though what good it will do you at the bar, I don’t know.”

“Granddad, you were the one who told me a good bartender is an underpaid psychiatrist.”

“Yeah, and you don’t have to have a fancy degree to be a bartender.”

“I know, but the bar might not always be there. I have to be able to support myself.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “And you were the one who told me to get a degree.”

“You’d have done it without me telling you to. Besides, you already have one.”

“I could never have done it without your love and support and the tip money I make at O’Hara’s. But a psychology degree won’t buy me much. I have to go further and get my master’s.”

“I know. I know. I just like to yank your chain.” Her grandfather smiled.

Maddie poked her head in the office door. “Mr. Kincannon is here to see you, Kate.”

“Send him in, please,” Kate said.

A tall brown-haired man with tinges of gray entered. “Ah, I see the young Ms. O’Hara is getting around. I trust you didn’t receive any injuries from the explosion earlier?”

Shelby frowned at the man. “No, I did not.” Her eyes narrowed. “Should I know you?”

Daniel stepped forward. “This is my boss, Jed Kincannon, director of the Secret Service.”

The older man held out his hand.

Shelby took the hand, but she didn’t get a good feeling when she shook it. She wondered how long it would be before she trusted a stranger again.

“Jed, do you have anything to tell me about the men who abducted my granddaughter?” Kate asked.

“Nothing yet,” he replied.

“I have the feeling this is Cartel related. They use dirty tactics like this.” She gave the man a direct stare. “Don’t you have any undercover agents who have infiltrated the Cartel?”

“We don’t have any leads at this moment.”

“Nothing? Not even a motive? Why would someone want to hurt my granddaughter? Who would have dug deep enough to learn something even I didn’t know?”

“I don’t know.” Kincannon shook his head. “And we have nothing.”

“What about Richard Nelson?” Kate asked.

The director tilted his head. “What about him?”

“He’s made several statements about eliminating the opposition. I’m his competition in his campaign to secure the party nomination for the presidential election.”

Kincannon seemed to consider her words. “That’s a possibility. He wants to position.”

“We’ve had this discussion before. I’ve toyed with the idea of backing out of the race, but I haven’t made up my mind. And I don’t want word of my decision, or indecision, to leave this room, is that understood?”

Shelby could see how the woman had built her reputation as a strong political candidate and opponent. She didn’t mince words and she thought through everything.

Kincannon nodded. “My lips are sealed.”

“As are mine,” Daniel said.

Shelby almost smiled.

Kate didn’t mess around. She demanded loyalty from the people around her, and they seemed willing and almost happy to give it to her.

Kate turned to Patrick and Shelby. “If someone is after me and my family because of my run for president of the United States, can you imagine if I were to actually go through with it?”

She shook her head. “Sometimes I wish I was that eighteen-year-old girl back on the Outer Banks. Before I was forced to marry the man my father chose for me, before I entered politics. My family wouldn’t be under attack and I wouldn’t have to worry about having a target painted on my back every time I step out my front door.”

Patrick stared at her. “It was the life you chose.”

Kate nodded. “Not really, but that’s water under the bridge.” She turned to Kincannon. “I’ve asked Daniel to provide for Shelby’s security.”

“What about you?” Kincannon asked.

“If this is an attack on my family because of my former position or my current politics, I want my family protected. After D’Angelis turned, Daniel’s the only man from your agency I trust at this time.”

“I have more trustworthy agents. Let me assign one to Ms. O’Hara.”

Kate’s lips pursed. “No. I want Daniel.”

Kincannon stared from Kate to Daniel. “You’re on board with the change in assignment?”

Daniel nodded.

A little thrill rippled through Shelby. Watching Kate Winston in action gave her a strange sense of pride. And then for Daniel to agree that he was okay with taking on the responsibility of being her bodyguard…

It shouldn’t have given her that rush of heat through her body. But it did, and she couldn’t fight what she couldn’t control. “If you all have finished deciding what’s best for me, I’d like to get out of here.”

Kincannon frowned. “Where’s she going?”

“To gather her school assignments and clothes,” Kate said. “Then she’s coming back to stay here with us until we get this figured out.”

Kincannon seemed to digest that. “Okay, then. Daniel’s on it. Do you want me to assign another bodyguard to you, Kate?”

“I’ll hire my own, thank you.” Kate faced Shelby. “I’ll see you back here later tonight?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Shelby turned and left before they started talking about her again as if she wasn’t in the same room with them. As she left the front door of the mansion to climb into Daniel’s SUV, she was struck again by how bright the sun shone and how green and colorful everything was. Being in the dark so long was like being blind. When she could finally see again, she couldn’t seem to get enough.

Locked inside a mansion, no matter how beautiful, was not where she wanted to be. If Daniel was going to be her bodyguard, he’d have to get used to following her around or be left behind.

Daniel drove the SUV down the driveway and out onto the highway heading toward Beth City, wondering what the hell he’d done by agreeing to watch over the independent, young Shelby O’Hara. He’d have his hands full keeping up with her.

“I’ll take you to the university and then we head back to the Winston Estate.”

“What if I’m not ready to go straight back?” she countered.

“I want to be back by dark. It’s hard enough watching out for bad guys in the daylight.”

He noted Shelby didn’t agree or disagree with his idea of heading right back to the estate where he could keep her in a defined area that was rigged with security cameras.

Out in the open, he had no way of knowing who might hit and when. His hands gripped the steering wheel as he navigated Raleigh traffic and finally made it out to the highway leading east to Beth City. He checked his rearview mirror periodically to make certain they weren’t being followed. So far, so good.

Shelby pressed a button and lowered the window, letting the breeze blow through the car. She leaned her head toward the wind, her dark hair flying out behind her, her blue eyes gleaming in the sunlight.

Daniel could imagine Kate looking like this when she’d been the same age. He could see why the young Patrick O’Hara had fallen for her. Too bad their affair had gone so wrong. Both had been too young, too impetuous.

He’d seen the anguish in Kate’s eyes when she’d learned her daughter hadn’t died, but had lived to die before she got to meet her. No one could fake that. To have missed knowing your child, missed watching her grow up, her first steps, her first day at school, her first crush on a boy…

Daniel’s mother had celebrated all his and his siblings’ firsts, loving every minute of their lives and loving them unconditionally.

Had Kate’s mother been that cruel, to tell her that her child had died? Why would she do that?

“Do you mind if I play some music?” Shelby asked.

Daniel shook his head. “Have at it.”

She fiddled with the tuner until she found an oldies station.

“Really?” Daniel laughed. “I’d have pegged you for pop/rock.”

She shook her head and smiled. “I live on a beach. This is my comfort music. It reminds me of home.”

He could relate. His family home was on a beach much farther north and rockier than those found on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but still, the music reminded him of home, as well.

“It was so dark and quiet where I was, all I had were the songs I remembered to keep me company.” She glanced out the window, her mouth turning down, her eyes darkening. “I only sang the happy ones.”

His chest tightened, imagining her tied up in a basement, alone and scared. His fists curled around the steering wheel. He wanted to be on the investigation team searching for the bastards who’d kidnapped her. When he found them, he’d be hard-pressed to control his anger and resist the desire to kill them for what they’d done.

“Are you angry at me?” Shelby asked.

Daniel glanced her way, shaking out of his thoughts. “No, why?”

“You looked like you wanted to kill someone.”

“I was thinking about the men who kidnapped you.”

“And you want to kill them?”

“Yes,” he said through gritted teeth.

“What good would that do?”

“They’d be off the street and unable to hurt anyone else, for one.”

She stared at him a moment, then said, “Despite what they did to me, I don’t wish them dead.”

“You’re much nicer than I am.”

Shelby sat back in her seat and gazed out the window at the road in front of them. “I’d want to know why they kidnapped me.”

“You’re related to a very influential and wealthy woman.”

“But that’s her. I’m not influential or wealthy.”

“Yeah, but she’s known for taking care of her family.”

“Who would have known I was her granddaughter?” She laughed humorlessly. “I didn’t know I was her granddaughter. I still find it hard to believe. Did they demand a ransom?”

“No.” Daniel shook his head. “That’s what has us all stumped. They never demanded anything. Did your captors say anything to you?”

“Not a word. It was as if I was a dog at the pound, to be fed and locked up until it was time to euthanize me.” She sighed. “Well, that was one of the thoughts I had at the time.”

“Not a particularly good one.”

“I know. Thus the beach songs.”

“You were lying on the floor in the kitchen when I found you. How did you get there?”

She straightened, her lips curling. “I broke a brace off my chair and used it to break the zip tie binding my wrists.” She glanced down as she rubbed the sores there. “I would have made it out if I’d run a little faster. But after sitting still for so long, my legs weren’t cooperating.” She smiled. “But I kicked one of my captors in the face and hit the other with a heavy flashlight.”

Daniel’s stomach tensed. She’d been kept in the dark both physically and mentally. It had to have been tough. But she’d been tougher. To have the inner strength to figure a way out of her predicament was a testament to her resilience.

Shelby wasn’t what he’d thought the granddaughter of Kate Winston would be like. But then she’d been raised by her grandfather and thus she was much more down-to-earth. He found himself drawn even more to her, and not just because of her physical attributes—all of which he’d seen and admired, and many of which he’d touched and wouldn’t mind touching again.

Shelby’s head swiveled as they passed a road. “That was our turn.”

Damn. He’d missed his turn off the highway just thinking about her. Being a bodyguard to Shelby was a mistake when all he could think about was getting his hands back on her delectable body.

Once again, he wondered why he’d agreed to continue on as her bodyguard. To be a good bodyguard, he needed to be impartial, focused and free of distraction. Shelby O’Hara had distraction in every ounce of her gorgeous body.

Chapter 7

Shelby sat on the other side of the SUV, her mind on the man driving instead of the assignments and classes she’d missed. When she should have been planning ahead on the catch-up work she’d have to hustle to complete, she was thinking about how thick Daniel’s thighs were and wondering what they looked like beneath the denim of his jeans.

Hell, he’d seen her naked. She ought to have the same privilege. Not that she should be thinking about him that way at all, but she couldn’t help it.

Her core heated and she squirmed in her seat, inches away from his big hands gripping the steering wheel. The same hands that had carried her from the bath to her bed, naked.

“So how did you become a bodyguard?”

“I work for the Secret Service. I was detailed out to provide protection to former vice president Kate Winston.”

“Secret Service. Sounds impressive.” She tapped her fingers on the armrest. “And interesting. Are all Secret Service agents glorified bodyguards?”

His jaw tightened and his fingers curled around the steering wheel turned white around the knuckles.

She must have bruised his ego. She smiled inwardly, glad she’d gotten beneath his skin.

“Some of us work on investigations into threats against the president and vice president.”

“Why aren’t you working on the investigation? Did you make someone mad?”

His fingers loosened and he sighed. “I was injured when someone shot at Mrs. Winston. I’ve been sidelined from the investigation.”

“You were injured? Is that why you limp?” Now she felt bad for poking fun at the man.

He nodded. “I took the bullets meant to kill your grandmother.”

Shelby sat for a moment in silence, the full extent of what he was saying hitting hard. “Who would have it in for her and why?”

“If we had the answers, wouldn’t we have caught him by now?”

“I suppose.” She glanced out the window as they passed houses and businesses. “I don’t understand why people have to be so callous and angry all the time.”

“Being a part of the Winston family, with all their wealth and property, has its perks.”

“And apparently its price.” Shelby pushed a hand through her hair and stared forward. “I didn’t ask for it.”

“No, you didn’t. But you can’t deny it. You look just like a younger version of Kate. Anyone with a pair of eyes could see it.”

As they drove onto the university campus, Shelby stared at her reflection in the side mirror. She did look a little like her grandmother and a lot like the pictures of the younger Kate Winston.

Campus looked the same as it did the day she’d entered the library to research information for her paper. The sun was just as bright, the trees weren’t much different and the buildings were all still there.

The only thing that had changed was her. Two weeks ago, the most important thing in her life was getting a good education.

Her grandfather had done everything in his power to give her all the opportunities to improve her life. Despite his argument earlier that day about not needing an education to be a bartender, he’d been the first one to kick her butt and remind her of how important it was to get a degree that would provide a livable income. He’d drilled it into her head that she had to be able to support herself and anyone else who might come along. That anyone else being any children she might bring into the world.

Her grandfather worried that she wouldn’t be able to support herself when he was gone. He’d admitted he’d spoiled her mother and she’d been less than responsible when she’d been growing up, as evidenced by her pregnancy at age eighteen.

He’d raised Shelby to be more responsible. She’d helped out at the grill from a young age, earning her own spending money. Nothing was free in life, he’d told her. And she alone was responsible for her own actions.

She didn’t mind working, and she loved her grandfather more than anyone in the world because deep inside she knew he loved her, too. And she’d almost lost him. Or rather, they’d almost lost each other. With her life back in her own hands, she vowed never to be so vulnerable again.

She pointed to a brick structure, “Pull up beside that building. I’ll just run in and see if my professor is there.”

When she reached for the door handle, his hand snaked out and grabbed her arm. “We will go inside the building together.”

His unrelenting grip on her arm left her no choice.

“Seriously? Look around you. There are students everywhere, and faculty and staff. I can make it to my professor’s office and back with no problem.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather go with you.”

“It’s not all the same to me. I don’t need a bodyguard to lead me around on a leash.” Shelby yanked her arm free and pushed the door open, jumping out. She set off at a good pace, hoping to reach the building and duck inside before he could catch up.

She hadn’t gone five steps before Daniel was out of the car and at her side, matching her pace. Students passed on each side of her.

Each time one walked by, Daniel glared and moved closer to Shelby.

Finally Shelby stopped and faced him. “You can’t do this. You’re scaring the other students.”

“Do you realize how close they are getting? Anyone that close could jam a knife into you and you wouldn’t see it coming.”

“They’re students, damn it, not terrorists.” Shelby stomped away from him and pushed through the door into the building.

Once inside, she mounted the stairs in the stairwell to the third floor and hurried toward her professor’s office.

Daniel dogged her footsteps, never more than a few steps behind, his limp more pronounced after climbing the stairs.

When they reached the office, Shelby faced Daniel. “I’m going inside. Alone.”

He frowned. “I’d rather check it out before you go in.”

“Too bad. I’ll take my chances. You’re staying out here.”

“But—”

She poked a finger into his chest. “Stay.”

His frown deepened. “I’m not a dog.”

“I know. A dog would have a much more obedient disposition.” Shelby slipped through the wood-paneled door into the professor’s office and closed it behind her. She waited on the other side, fully expecting Daniel to jerk the door open and follow her inside. When he didn’t, she was almost disappointed, then she shook her head and turned.

The professor wasn’t in, but his teaching assistant was.

Shelby wrote down all the assignments and promised the assistant she’d email the professor with her excuse.

She was sure most professors had heard every excuse in the books, but being kidnapped and held for two weeks had to be new, ranking right up there with being taken by aliens. And they might not believe her, since Kate’s team had kept the abduction below the radar from news and media sources.

Once she had a list of the assigned work, she braced herself for her next encounter with Daniel.

When she stepped out into the hallway, Daniel stood surrounded by several young, college coeds. And the jerk was smiling at them.

One batted her eyes and took his hand, penning her phone number on his palm. When she’d replaced her pen in her purse, she lifted her thumb to her ear and her pinky to her mouth and mouthed the words call me.

Shelby’s fingers curled into tight fists, her fingernails digging into her skin. She walked away without looking back. It wasn’t as if he was her boyfriend. She was the job to him.

So what if he’d seen her naked? As a Secret Service agent he’d probably seen lots of naked women. A girl on every job, like James Bond.

She heard him behind her say, “Sorry, ladies, I have to go.”

He had a job to do.

Her.

Shelby’s teeth ground together. As she passed the elevator the doors were closing. She ducked in before they closed all the way. Daniel ran the last couple steps, but didn’t make it in time to jam his hand between the doors and stop its progress.

Thankfully, the elevator was going down. But it stopped at the second floor. Damn.

If she gauged it right, Daniel would assume she would get off on the ground floor. What he didn’t realize was that there was a walkway across to the next building on campus from the second floor. And the entrances to that building led to the parking lot where she’d left her car.

Her grandfather had left it there, more worried about her return than bringing her car home. She kept a spare key in a magnetic box on the undercarriage of the vehicle. If she could get there before Daniel, she would take herself to the Outer Banks and collect her own clothing. Maybe she could help her grandfather out for a few hours at O’Hara’s Bar and Grill.

She stepped off the elevator and crossed the glassed-in walkway to the next building and took the stairs to the exit, all the while glancing over her shoulder for Daniel. Once outside the building, she hurried toward her car, sitting where it had been the night she’d been attacked.

The closer she got to the car, the faster her heart beat. She told herself there was nothing to worry about. The sun shone down on her, there were other people in the parking lot and she wasn’t a lone student asking to be abducted in an empty parking lot.

A white SUV backed out of a parking space, blocking her path to her car.

Shelby stopped and waited for the vehicle to move on.

The longer it took to complete the reverse, the more impatient she became. She glanced behind her, worried Daniel would figure it out and come after her before she reached her car.

The SUV turned, still backing toward her. Then when the driver should have shifted into drive, it continued backward, sliding up alongside the position where Shelby stood.

A door swung open.

Something clicked inside her, her heart rate skyrocketed and her senses jumped to full alert. Shelby backed up a step, turned and ran, daring only one glance over her shoulder.

A man in a black ski mask leaped out of the vehicle and gave chase.

Heart racing, she ran for her life, the nightmare happening all over again. “Help!” she cried.

Students stopped and stared, too shocked by what was happening to be of any use.

“Help!” Shelby cried, adrenaline the only fuel powering her legs. She refused to be caught; she couldn’t go back to a dark cellar where all she’d had were her thoughts to keep her from going insane.

She ran around a vehicle and headed for the building she’d just exited. Pushing through the glass doorway, she ran into a solid wall of muscle.

Shelby screamed and fought, every instinct geared for survival.

“Shelby, it’s me!” Daniel yelled. “Stop fighting.”

When she realized it was Daniel, she fell against him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Don’t let them take me.”

“Shh…it’s okay.” His arms circled her, drawing her close. His hands ran down her back, stroking her to calm. “Now, tell me what you’re talking about.” He pushed her to arm’s length and stared into her face.

“A man in a ski mask.” She pointed toward the door as the white SUV raced past. “He came out of that SUV.”

Daniel shoved her to the side and sprinted out the door. Shelby followed behind him, refusing to let him out of her sight.

He didn’t go far before he stopped. “Damn. No license plate.” Daniel pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and hit one of his contact numbers. “Why the hell did you run from me?” He glared at her as he put the phone to his ear. “How can I protect you if you don’t cooperate?”

“I didn’t think it would happen in broad daylight.” Shelby stood like a recalcitrant child, her head hanging low. “Why is this happening to me?”

He shook his head, the anger melting from his face. He gathered her against him with one arm, while he held the phone to his ear. “Do us both a favor and don’t run from me. I might not find you in time if it happens again.”

Shelby nodded, thankful for his arm around her and completely terrified by the thought that it could happen.

Again.

When Jed Kincannon picked up on the other end, Daniel didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “Henderson here. There’s been another attempt to kidnap Kate Winston’s granddaughter.” He gave the details and a description of the white SUV. “It didn’t have a license plate.”

“I’ll get on the horn with the local police immediately. Stay with the girl,” Kincannon said. “You’re headed back to the Winston Estate?”

He could feel Shelby trembling against him and his arm tightened around her. “Yes, sir.” Damn right he was taking her back where there were pretty stiff security measures in place, and not only would it be difficult for someone to get in, it would be almost impossible for someone to leave unnoticed.

“Good,” Kincannon said. “Keep her there as much as possible.”

Daniel wanted to laugh at the man. That would be like caging a wild cat. She’d eventually find her way out and he’d be running to keep up with her. His bum knee throbbed in anticipation. Daniel clicked the off button and pocketed the phone. “Come on. We should be getting back to the estate.”

“I’m not going back,” she said into his shirt, the tremors subsiding. She pushed back and stared up into his eyes. “I’m going home.”

“Like hell you are. It’s not safe.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I’m going home to get my own clothes. Then you can take me back to the Winston Estate.”

He didn’t like the idea of driving all the way over to the Outer Banks. It would take a couple of hours to get there from where they were and even longer to get back to Raleigh. “It’ll put us getting back after dark.”

“I’m not going back without my own clothes. I’ll take my own car if I have to.”

Anger and frustration mixed and boiled over. “You were almost kidnapped again. Don’t you get it?”

She stared up at him. “Yes, I get it. I was stupid to run away from you.”

“Then why did you do it?”

She looked away. “You’re pushy, and I’m not used to someone telling me what to do and following me around like I’m a child to be coddled.”

“Then stop acting like a child.” He gripped her chin in his fingers and tipped her head up. “I can’t help you if you don’t let me.” With her face turned up to him and her lips only inches from his, he realized his error too late. All the anger at having been duped, followed by the surge of emotion he’d experienced when he’d seen her running toward him with fear and desperation in her eyes welled up in him and he took it out on her. He pressed his lips to hers in a searing kiss, one that took his breath away and left him dizzy with the intensity.

When he broke away, he whispered against her lips, “Don’t run from me.”

She braced her hands on his chest, curling her fingers into his shirt, clinging to him.

“Promise.” His hands slid over her shoulders to grip her arms. “Promise you won’t run from me,” he said through gritted teeth.

“I promise,” she whispered. Then her hands circled the back of his neck, bringing his lips back to hers. She gave as good as she got, her tongue pushing past his lips to take his in a long, slow glide. Her hips pressed against his as she moved closer, her calf curling around the back of his leg.

They could have been anywhere, but he felt as though they were alone on a deserted island, only him and Shelby.

A horn honked, shaking him out of the dream he’d been in, waking him to reality. They were standing in a parking lot. People were moving around them and anyone could have run them over and they would never have seen it coming.

“Come on.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the other building’s parking lot.

She ran to keep up, her fingers wrapped in his. When they reached his SUV, he gave it a quick once-over, checking for bombs, before he allowed her to get in. Given her track record, a bomb could happen again, just like a kidnapping had almost succeeded.

He shivered at the thought. Even more than his promise to Patrick to keep her safe, he couldn’t live with himself if he lost her.

“Where are we going?” she asked as she buckled her seat belt across her lap and settled back against the leather seats.

He shifted into Reverse, backed out of the parking space and drove toward the exit, his focus on the road, the vehicles around him and everything else but that kiss. “We’re going to the Outer Banks, damn it.”

Ah, who was he kidding? He couldn’t think of anything but the kiss.

Chapter 8

Shelby leaned forward as they crossed the Washington Baum Bridge onto the strip of land known as the Outer Banks. With her window lowered, she breathed in the salty tang of the air, her chest swelling with love for the island, love for the long stretches of beach and this crazy touristy piece of heaven.

The sun was low in the western sky, making the sky orange and the water glisten like a thousand black, sparkling diamonds.

“I love this place,” she said out loud, not expecting any response from Daniel. “It’s home to me.”

Daniel had driven all the way from the university without uttering a single word.

Shelby had been hesitant to break the silence, figuring he was still mad about her attempt to escape him. She wanted to be mad back. After all, she was more or less on a short leash with the bodyguard, unable to take a step without his approval or clearance.

Mad as she should have been, she couldn’t wipe that kiss out of her mind. When she’d been thinking about him naked, she hadn’t imagined how just a kiss would fry every brain cell in her head and leave her lips tingling for the next hour. Hell, they still tingled.

Sure, she’d dated guys, had sex with a couple of them, but none of them had kissed her like that and left her wanting so much more.

She sat as far away from him as possible in the confines of his SUV, running her tongue over her lips, tasting him there, and as she wondered what had triggered the kiss, one thing became perfectly clear. As much as she’d been thinking about him, he’d also been thinking about her.

Heat filled her insides, surging into places that shouldn’t be feeling warm while stuck in a car with a surly bodyguard for the next few hours.

When they crossed the bridge and she could see the Atlantic Ocean ahead, she felt a sense of relief, of coming home and excitement.

“There were a couple of times I didn’t think I’d see this place again,” she said, her fingers gripping the armrest, emotion swelling in her throat.

Daniel glanced her way. “Seems like you did your best to make it happen.”

She nodded. “I couldn’t give up. I knew my grandfather would be beside himself with worry. If for no other reason, I had to make it back for him.” She smiled. “But now that I’m here, I’m glad I made it back for me, too. I love the smell of salt, the beautiful sunrises you can only get here on the edge of the ocean.”

Daniel turned south along the long stretch of land that made up the Outer Banks, passing tourist shops, restaurants, hotels, cottages and all the places Shelby knew by heart. She’d ridden her bicycle past them when she was too young to drive and driven past them every day she went to school or on those rare occasions when she went to Raleigh to do some shopping at the big department stores.

She loved this place where people came to relax and vacation away from the stress of the bigger cities.

When she spotted the roofline of O’Hara’s Bar and Grill, excitement filled her and she could hardly wait for Daniel to park the SUV before she threw open the door and jumped out.

“Shelby,” Daniel said, his voice stern, brooking no argument.

She stopped and waited for him to join her, aware he’d saved her twice in the past two days, and she owed him something for that.

When she stepped into the bar, the waitresses and bus boys stopped what they were doing and rushed over to her, exclaiming and hugging.

“Shelby, oh, dear, sweet Jesus,” Lana Innman cried. “We were all so worried about you. You grandfather has been beside himself. How are you? Are you okay?”

Shelby’s heart swelled at the welcome and she blinked back ready tears. “I’m fine, just glad to be back.”

Marisa Webber joined the group hug. “Patrick said you’d been found, but I couldn’t believe it without seeing you with my own eyes.” She sniffed and brushed tears from her cheek. “We’d almost given up hope.”

“Yes, we had. Almost. But I knew you were tough and you wouldn’t let anyone keep you down long.” Lana hugged her again and glanced across at Daniel. “Wow. Who’s the hunk?”

Shelby bristled. “This is Daniel. He’s my…” she struggled with calling him her bodyguard, not wanting to sound like she was all that important.

“I’m her friend,” he finished for her, saving her the embarrassment.

With a grateful smile at him, she repeated, “That’s right, he’s my friend.”

“Just a friend?” Marisa asked. “If that’s all, can I have his number?”

Normally Shelby couldn’t be mad at Marisa; she flirted with all the male customers. She was kindhearted and fun loving and didn’t have a mean bone in her body. But after Daniel’s kiss, Shelby had a hard time taking Marisa’s flirting lightly.

Patrick O’Hara came out of the back office, grinning from ear to ear. “I told you she was okay. Now move, so I can get a hug in there.”

The staff stepped back and let Patrick in. He engulfed her in a bear hug. “I can’t seem to get enough of these.” He kissed the top of her head, the way he had when she’d been a little girl. “I’m so glad you’re back.”

“We only came in to collect her things,” Daniel said.

“I’m glad. I was about to go through your bedroom and would probably have gotten the wrong items.”

“Don’t worry. I’m here now, and I can get what I need.” Shelby kissed her grandfather’s cheek. “Don’t forget you need to be back at the Winston Estate sooner rather than later.”

“I will, as soon as I put together the order list for tomorrow.”

“Don’t take too long.” Shelby hugged a couple of the others, then broke free and headed for the back exit and the staircase that led up to their apartment above the bar.

Daniel grabbed her arm before she put her foot on the first step. “Let me go first.”

“Fair enough.” She handed him her key and followed him up the stairs. “The lock can stick a little. You have to wiggle the door when you put the key in it.”

He inserted the key and attempted to twist it in the lock. As she’d predicted, it didn’t work.

“Like this,” Shelby reached around him and wrapped one hand around his holding the doorknob and the other over his fingers and turned the key, wiggling the handle at the same time.

When she touched him, a jolt of electric awareness burned through her.

As soon as the handle turned and the door opened, she jerked her hands away and moved back. In her hurry, she forgot she was so near to the edge of the landing. She teetered on the steps and nearly fell.

Daniel slipped an arm around her waist and crushed her to his chest. “Steady there,” he whispered into her hair, his mouth touching her temple.

Her pulse slammed against her veins, shooting red-hot blood through her body.

Though she’d gotten her feet under her, he didn’t let go, holding her longer than was necessary, and she was glad. Had he let go, her knees would have given way and she’d have melted like a puddle of goo at his feet.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his lips brushing against her earlobe.

Hell, no, she wasn’t okay. The man made her turn to mush whenever they touched.

Digging deep, she summoned enough willpower to pull herself together and look up at him. “I’m…”

That was her second mistake. In the fading light, she stared into his smoldering green eyes and lost herself all over again. She leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

He cupped the back of her head and sealed the kiss with one of his own, his mouth consuming her, his tongue thrusting between her teeth to caress hers.

When at last he lifted his head, he dragged in a deep breath and stepped through the door, pulling her behind him. “Wait here,” he commanded.

Wait? Her body on fire, she stood rooted to the spot, afraid if she moved, she’d collapse.

In the span of a few minutes, Daniel had searched the entire two-bedroom apartment.

But those few minutes were barely enough for her to come back to earth and get a grip on her rioting emotions.

“Get your things,” he said, his voice stern. “We’re going back to Raleigh.”

She’d been ready to march into her room and do just that, but having him come back at her as though what they’d shared hadn’t happened was a slap in the face. Anger rocketed up inside her.

“What just happened here?” she demanded.

His gaze met hers briefly and he looked away. “Nothing.”

“Are you telling me that kiss meant nothing?”

He faced her, and for a long moment, he stared down at her, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Really, Miss O’Hara, I’m just doing my job.” He turned and walked toward the door, where he stopped and glanced down at his watch then back up to her. “Five minutes.”

Daniel waited outside the apartment door, sucking in fresh air and sanity. The kiss had rocked him deeply and he had been far too tempted to drag her into the apartment and take it ten steps further. And, damn it, that was the worst thing he could do.

He was on the job, not on vacation. He wasn’t supposed to kiss the woman he should be protecting. It violated every ethic in his books. As a bodyguard, he was supposed to remain detached and observant. When he’d kissed Shelby, he’d lost track of everything. If someone had decided to shoot at them, they’d have had plenty of opportunity to kill.

The best way to end this was to make a clean, if ugly, break. Piss her off and she’d never get close enough for him to be tempted to kiss her again.

By the sound of drawers and doors slamming and the curse words coming from inside the apartment, he’d accomplished his mission.

That didn’t do anything to lessen his desire for her. He’d have to deal with it. No more kissing the girl.

After five minutes on the nose, she emerged from her bedroom, a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. She breezed past him and clomped down the stairs, her eyes blazing and her back ramrod straight.

Oh, yeah. She was mad. And damn if she wasn’t even sexier.

Swallowing a groan, he followed her down the stairs.

A few steps ahead of him, she entered the back door, the spring slamming it shut between them.

He had his hand on the handle to open the door when he heard a piercing scream.

Daniel ripped open the door and ran in. At first, he didn’t see Shelby. She couldn’t have gotten that far ahead of him. He rounded the corner into the kitchen and found a group of the staff gathered in a tight circle.

Daniel pushed through, zeroing in on Shelby’s light brown hair. “Shelby, are you okay?”

She shot him an irritated glance. “I’m fine, but Lana isn’t.” Shelby held the woman’s hands tight, bright red blood dripped from both of them.

Patrick O’Hara hurried through from another door, his face pale, the lines around his eyes and mouth deeper. “Here’s the first-aid kit.”

“Someone give me the gauze and surgical tape. I can’t let up on the pressure until we can apply more.”

Lana’s face was pale and tears streaked down her cheeks. “I can’t believe I was so stupid. I knew there was a broken glass in the dishwater, but I wasn’t careful.”

“We’ll get you fixed up enough to stop the bleeding,” Shelby reassured her. “But you’re going to need stitches.”

Lana swayed. “I’m feeling kind of dizzy.”

“Get her a chair.”

One of the busboys ran out to the dining area and returned with a chair. Daniel seated Lana, then took the first-aid kit from Patrick. He pulled out a roll of gauze and medical adhesive tape. He made a tight pad of gauze and applied tape on two sides. “Can you stand long enough to dip your hand under clean water?”

Lana nodded. “I think so.”

He eased them toward the sink.

Marisa turned on the cold water and Shelby held Lana’s hand beneath the steady stream. “I’m going to let go. Look at me, not your hand. I don’t want to pick you up off the floor.” She smiled. “Come on, Lana, you’re tough. You can do this.”

“Okay, Shelby, just do it.” She stared at Shelby as they pushed her hand beneath the water.

Once Shelby let go, the blood flowed heavily.

Daniel pulled her hand from the water and clamped the wad of gauze over the cut and taped it down. He added another wad of gauze and more tape. “She needs those stitches.”

Shelby washed the blood from her hands and found a clean dish towel for Lana to hold under her hand. “We can take her.”

“No, let me. As the owner, I should take her.” Patrick hooked Lana’s arm and guided her toward the exit. He paused and turned back to Shelby. “I just let Kayla go home sick and we have a group scheduled to come in. They’re going to be shorthanded.”

“I’ll stay and help out.” Shelby shot a glance at Daniel, daring him to argue.

He washed the blood off his hands, shaking his head. “We’re not staying.”

“I’m not leaving. Unless you plan to hog-tie me and throw me in the back of your car, I’m not going anywhere.”

Marisa whooped. “Yeah, baby. I gotta see this.”

Daniel’s adrenaline spiked and he fought to control the urge to do just what she’d said. With a deep breath, he resisted and played on her father’s fears. “Mr. O’Hara?”

Patrick shook his head. “No, sweetheart, you need to go with Daniel.” Her grandfather frowned. “I don’t want to leave you, knowing you could disappear again.”

“Go, Granddad.” Shelby touched his arm and Lana’s. “I’m fine, and I’ll be here when you get back. Take care of Lana. She needs you now.”

Patrick’s gaze went to Daniel. “Don’t let anything happen to my girl, will ya?”

Short of dragging Shelby out of the bar, Daniel wasn’t convincing her to leave until her grandfather returned. Resigning himself to waiting this one out, he nodded at Patrick. “I’ll do my best.”

The older man’s eyes narrowed. “Do better. She’s the only family I have left.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Come on, Lana, let’s get you sewn up before you bleed all over the place.” He winked at her and led her out of the bar.

Ignoring Daniel, Shelby clapped her hands together. “Come on, people. We have a party arriving in twenty minutes. Let’s get this place cleaned up and ready.”

The waitresses, busboys and bartender hurried back to their duties. Shelby snagged a mop and a bucket of cleaner and headed for the kitchen.

Daniel followed.

“If you’re going to hang around, you might as well help.” She shoved the mop into his hands, stepped over the puddle of blood on the floor and, using a strainer, scooped the broken glass out of the sink and deposited it in the trash.

While she cleaned the dishes, Daniel mopped the floor, thinking there was no glory in being a Secret Service agent. Once again, he wondered what he’d been thinking when he’d agreed to be Shelby’s bodyguard.

Trouble. With a capital T.

As expected, a group of thirty men from a rowing team out of D.C. converged on O’Hara’s, shouting, laughing and raising good-natured hell.

Daniel helped by bussing tables while keeping a close eye on Shelby. He studied all the men, searching each face for a clue as to his intention.

Most of them wore polo shirts with their club logo on them. They were healthy, muscular men with innocent faces out to have a good time. For the most part.

Daniel wished Shelby was serving behind the bar. As she wove her way between the tables, any one of the men could attack and he’d be too late to help her.

He tried following her around, but that only made her mad, and she told him to back off.

At one table, she smiled and chatted with several of the rowers while serving fresh drinks and collecting the empties. When she turned back toward the bar, she tripped and would have fallen, but one man reached out and yanked her onto his lap, saving her, but not the contents of her tray.

Bottles and mugs toppled to the floor. Only one broke; the rest remained intact. Rubber tub in hand, Daniel hurried to her side.

“Oops.” Shelby laughed. “Thanks for the save, but you can let me up now.”

The man who’d pulled her into his lap laughed and refused to let go of her, his buddies egging him on.

Shelby retained her ever-present smile. “You really should let me up.” With a glance at Daniel, she looked back at the man. “My boyfriend doesn’t like it when other guys touch me.”

The man immediately let go. “Sorry, dude. Didn’t mean to poach.”

Daniel’s fingers clenched around the tub he’d been about to throw at the man. He still wanted to throw it, but he held back with a considerable amount of effort.

Shelby’s lips twisted into a crooked smile. “See? He gets all hot and bothered when other guys so much as look at me, don’t you, baby?” She kissed his cheek and slid a hand along his shoulder as she passed by him.

The guy in chair held up his hands, apparently seeing the danger in Daniel’s eyes. “Like I said, man, I didn’t know.”

After a moment, Daniel shrugged. “No harm, no foul.” He bent to clean up the bottles and mugs. When he had the mess cleared, he went to find Shelby.

She wasn’t in the bar.

His pulse ratcheting upward, he hurried for the kitchen. Not there either, nor was the cook or anyone else.

The back door stood open as if someone had gone out in a hurry.

Daniel slammed the tub of bottles and mugs on a counter and ran for the back door.

Outside, the cook was tossing a heavy bag of trash into the Dumpster.

“Where’s Shelby?” Daniel demanded.

The young man lost control of the bag he’d been hefting up into the trash container and it crashed back behind him, breaking open. “Well, damn.” He glared at Daniel over the mess. “Don’t sneak up on me like that.”

“Shelby? Where is she?”

“How should I know? You’re the one who’s been following her around all night.”

Daniel glanced left then right. Nothing moved in back of the building and there was no sign of Shelby. He ran back into the building and down the hallway toward the bar. A door opened immediately to his right and someone stepped out of the ladies’ room and smacked into him. Reaching out, he grabbed the woman to keep her from falling.

His hands wrapped around Shelby’s arms. As soon as he realized it was her, he crushed her against his chest. “Where the hell have you been?”

“To the bathroom,” she said breezily.

“You just about gave me a freakin’ heart attack.”

“I didn’t go far,” she whispered, her mouth close to his, her breath warming his skin.

With her body pressed to his, his adrenaline still running high, he couldn’t hold back. “Woman, you’re making me crazy.” He crushed her lips with his in a brutal kiss. His fingers knotted in her hair and he tugged, tipping her head back more so that he could trail his mouth along her jawline and down the side of her throat to that place where her pulse raced beneath her delicate skin.

Shelby’s hands circled the back of his neck, drawing him closer, her calf rising up the side of his leg, curling around. “Missed me, huh?”

Chapter 9

Shelby could have kicked herself.

From hot and fiery to cold and distant, Daniel pushed Shelby away and stepped back. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

“But it did and you can’t take it back.” Her lips curled upward in a smirk. “You wanted to kiss me. Admit it.”

He stared at her for a long time. Then he pushed his hand through his hair and turned his back to her. “We’d better get back to work.”

She grabbed his arm. “Would it hurt so much to admit you find me attractive?”

He whipped around, his eyes blazing. “It wouldn’t matter. You’re in a different stratosphere entirely. I’m your bodyguard, not your lover. Don’t get the two confused.”

“What do you mean, I’m in a different stratosphere? We’re both human. What’s so different about you versus me?”

“You’re the granddaughter of the former vice president of the United States, for the love of God.”

Shelby’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s what’s got your shorts in a twist?” She shook her head. “I’m the granddaughter of a man who owns a bar. I don’t live in a mansion, I’m not a debutante with a purse for every outfit and a room full of shoes. I’m Shelby O’Hara.”

“And I’m your bodyguard. Nothing else.”

“Damn right it’s nothing else. And I thought you were down-to-earth and a straight shooter. But I believe you’re something of a snob.” She pushed past him and marched back into the bar. “Just stay out of my way. I have work to do.”

Much as he’d like to stay out of her way, he couldn’t. Not when the danger was real. If the first kidnapping hadn’t convinced her, the second attempt sure as hell had convinced him.

He spent the rest of the evening jumping at every loud noise, dogging every one of Shelby’s footsteps and hating that all the guys in the bar were falling in love with the petite brunette with the perpetual smile for everyone but him.

The more he frowned, the brighter her smile grew, to the point he wanted to throw her over his shoulder like a caveman and take her back to the Winston Estate just to put an end to his agony.

Near eleven o’clock, Patrick O’Hara returned to the bar, having taken Lana to a twenty-four-hour clinic for the stitches and dropped her off at her house on the way back.

Patrick hugged his granddaughter as soon as he walked through the door. “I was worried sick the entire time I was gone, thinking I’d get back to find you had disappeared again.” He kissed her forehead and she hugged him again.

“I’m not going anywhere. We had a good night and nothing out of the ordinary happened.”

Daniel noted that Shelby hadn’t bothered to tell her grandfather what had happened at the university. Had she informed him of the near miss, he’d have been even more determined to stick to her like glue, something Daniel had discovered Shelby didn’t like. She was an independent young woman, sometimes too independent for her own good. His job was hard enough keeping her safe without worrying about her taking off because she was mad at him for something.

Thankfully, the rowing team had to be up at the crack of dawn to work out. One by one, they filed out of the bar, leaving it nearly empty.

“You two can head back to the Winston Estate now. I’ll be right behind you as soon as I give the order list to Marisa.”

“Are you sure?” Shelby wiped her hands on a towel and tossed it on the bar. “I can stay and help clean up.”

“No, the staff handled it fine while you were gone. I’m sure they can do it again.”

Her brows furrowed. “Don’t think you’re going to get rid of me altogether. This arrangement is only temporary.”

“I hope so, dear. The sooner they figure out who was responsible and lock him up, the sooner you won’t have to have a bodyguard and the better I’ll feel. Now get going so I can finish up.”

When Patrick put it that way, Daniel didn’t know how he felt. On one hand, he’d be free of babysitting duties. On the other, he’d have no need to be around Shelby. They’d part ways and that would be the end of it. A Secret Service agent’s life wasn’t geared toward long-term relationships. “You heard your grandfather. You’re slowing him down.” Daniel hooked Shelby’s arm and guided her to the exit and his vehicle.

Shelby jerked her arm free. “You don’t have to be so pushy, bodyguard.”

He prayed she’d stay mad. After the fiery kiss in the hallway, he wasn’t sure he could keep his distance. “I do if I want to get you back to the Winstons’ place before dawn. As it is, it’ll be nearly one in the morning before we arrive.”

“Well, then, let’s get crackin’.” She led the way out the door to Daniel’s SUV.

When she placed her hand on the door handle, he stopped her. “Let me check first.”

Shelby stood back while Daniel shone a pocket flashlight under the car. He opened the hood and checked inside the engine compartment for anything that didn’t belong. When he was satisfied there weren’t any explosive devices attached to the vehicle, he waved a hand toward the passenger seat. “Your chariot awaits, princess.”

Her lips thinned. “I’m not a princess. I’m a waitress.” She got in and slammed the door shut.

Daniel hid a grin as he slid into the driver’s seat and buckled his seat belt.

The long drive back to Raleigh was completed in silence. Shelby fell asleep against the window, the shadows beneath her eyes more pronounced.

Daniel had to remind himself she’d only been free from her captors for a little more than a day. A lot had happened in that time frame. She was exhausted. When she wasn’t mad, her face softened and her lips relaxed, full and pink and completely kissable.

Daniel forced himself to concentrate on the road ahead. If he wasn’t careful, he’d drive into the ditch. He stayed alert by going over everything that had happened. D’Angelis had told them enough to save the girl before he died. But he’d died in custody. Someone at the police station had to have poisoned him.

D’Angelis had been a Secret Service agent like Daniel, with one huge difference: he’d gone bad. Sold out to the highest bidder, and it was suspected he’d worked for the Cartel. If there were dirty agents in the Secret Service, there could be dirty cops at the police station. But who had access to the man? Who could have slipped him the poison between the time he was brought from his cell and the time he died?

Daniel’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. He didn’t know who to trust anymore. Anyone could be after Shelby. If he asked Kate to find a different agent to provide for her safety, he couldn’t be certain that agent was a good agent.

The only reason he could come up with that would make someone target Shelby was her connection to Kate Winston. And who would have known Kate’s daughter had survived? For all these years, Kate had presumed her child was dead. The only others who knew about her pregnancy were her mother, father and the hospital staff who helped deliver the baby. And, of course, her grandfather.

Daniel pulled up to the gate of the Winston Estate, no closer to the truth than when he’d left and a whole lot more frustrated by a couple of incredibly hot kisses.

He parked at the front of the house. As late as it was, he didn’t want to make Shelby walk any farther than she had to. She was still asleep when he rounded the car, grabbed her duffel bag out of the backseat, looped it over his shoulder, then opened her door.

She tipped slightly until her seat belt caught her and kept her from falling out.

Daniel reached across her lap and unbuckled her belt, then gathered her in his arms and carried her up the steps to the big house.

The door opened as soon as he stopped in front of it and Kate Winston stood there in her bathrobe, her face clean of makeup. “I was beginning to worry, until Patrick texted me to say you were on your way back. Any mishaps?”

“Not on the trip back. Let me get her up the stairs and then we’ll talk.”

“I can get there myself.” Shelby’s eyes blinked open and she stared up at him. “Put me down.”

“Are you sure, dear?” Kate asked. “You look so very tired.”

“I can walk.” Shelby pushed at Daniel and he set her on her feet, keeping one of his arms behind her back to steady her.

“Let me check your room before you go up,” Daniel insisted.

“I’m sure it’s the same as I left it. You and Mrs. Winston need to talk, and I need a shower. I can manage on my own.”

Daniel hesitated. “I’d rather not leave it up to chance.”

“And I’d rather be alone,” she said. “I’ll be sure to scream if there’s a monster under my bed.”

Kate touched Daniel’s arm. “Thad was here earlier. I had him check things in Shelby’s room. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

Shelby cocked an eyebrow. “See? Even the lady of the house thinks it’s safe here. If it isn’t, I might as well go back to my home.”

With a smile, Kate took Daniel’s arm. “Let her have her peace. Shelby, honey, do you need help getting up the stairs?”

“No.” Shelby took the duffel bag from Daniel and set off across the foyer toward the stairs, her gait more wobbly than Daniel liked. She made it to the stairs and gripped the rail all the way up, half carrying, half dragging the duffel bag. The whole time Daniel watched, wanting to go after her and carry her and that damned bag up to her room.

“Come, Daniel,” Kate said. “I want to know everything that happened today.”

Daniel followed Kate into her study, determined to tell her only the things pertinent to the case. Kate didn’t need to know he’d kissed her granddaughter.

What would she do if she did know? Have him reassigned?

Without knowing who to trust, he couldn’t leave Shelby in someone else’s hands.

Shelby had to drag herself up the stairs. The nap she’d had in the car had done little to banish the exhaustion she was feeling. Working at the bar had been a stretch after two weeks in hell with no exercise. Though it had felt good to be back to normal, she’d been tense and jumpy all night. Partly because she wasn’t sure who to trust in the crowd at the bar and partly because of Daniel watching her.

Her lips still tingled from the kiss on the landing outside her apartment and the kiss in the hallway outside the bathroom in the bar. She’d kissed a few boys in her life, but nothing had compared to what she’d experienced with Daniel. Not only had it been good, it had sparked desire so strong, she’d almost forgotten where she was.

She moaned softly. The thought of kissing Daniel heated her blood and pushed her exhaustion aside. Now that she was awake, her body recalled the way it felt pressed against his. He’d been hard with desire, of that she was certain, and it made her hot and bothered all over.

A cool shower and her own nightgown would help her settle in for a good night’s sleep.

Dropping her bag on the floor, she rummaged inside until she found clean panties and her favorite baby-doll nightie. She’d bought it on a whim and hardly wore it. Living in the apartment over the bar, she’d always worn an old T-shirt and stretchy shorts to bed.

Living in the Winstons’ mansion made her more conscious of everything she wore, including her nightclothes. At home, instead of grabbing the ratty T-shirt she normally wore to bed, she’d dug the pretty teal nightgown out of her drawer. Now she almost changed her mind and scrounged for a T-shirt, but one glance at the connecting door made her hold on to the gown.

The man had some serious commitment issues and prejudices against people with a lot of money, not that she was one of them. Shelby had served all kinds at the bar and they all put their pants on the same way. Her connection to Kate Winston was an accident of birth. She was not connected to Kate’s bank account and wouldn’t want to be, even if she was asked.

Shelby had inherited her grandfather’s sense of responsibility and drive. If she made it in this world, it would be because of hard work and her intelligence, not because she’d been born into wealth.

Gown in hand, she entered the bathroom and shut the door behind her. The bathroom was bigger than her bedroom back home and almost as big as the living room. The counters and shower were made of a beautiful white granite with brown and black speckles. The floor was covered in white marble tile and the fixtures were a shiny gold.

She glanced at the bathtub she’d used the day before and her cheeks heated. That was the first time Daniel had seen her naked.

And the last time he would, she decided. He’d have to beg her to make love to him after he’d been so callous earlier. Even then, she’d tell him where he could get off.

She stripped out of the clothing Kate had given her, now rumpled and stained from waiting tables at the bar. She glanced down at the sweater with regret. It was nice and she’d hate it if the stains wouldn’t come out.

She filled the sink with water, applied some of the hand soap to the spots and then let it soak.

Stripping off her undergarments, she couldn’t help but think of Daniel sleeping in the room on the other side of her bedroom. All she had to do was walk over there, open the door and let herself in.

Her core tightened, electric tingles spreading through her body, angling downward. She jerked the handle on the shower, setting it on cool and stepped beneath the spray. The chill of the water made her catch her breath, and her wrists stung when the water hit the sores she’d created scraping the zip tie off. Both shocked her back to sanity.

Daniel was off-limits. He was her bodyguard, a Secret Service agent and a damned good kisser. But that was all. He wasn’t the stuff relationships were made of. He’d told her that in no uncertain terms.

Knowing him only a day was not long enough to form an attachment to her guardian angel, the man who’d pulled her from a burning building. Hell, a fireman could have done the same and she wouldn’t be drooling over him or wishing he’d kiss her again.

She should be worrying more about catching up on homework or about who was trying to kidnap her and less about getting in bed with the government agent. She squirted a little of the beautifully scented shampoo on her hand and applied it to her hair, scrubbing hard, as if she could scrub the images and thoughts about Daniel out of her head.

Not likely.

With quick efficiency, Shelby washed her body and rinsed her hair and skin, careful to avoid touching the bump on her forehead. Then she shut off the water. The towel she wrapped herself in was thick and luxurious, like everything else in the mansion. All the towels they had back home on the Outer Banks had been well worn and washed. They were thin, some threadbare. It wasn’t that she and her grandfather were poor, they just hadn’t found a need to replace things that worked just fine.

Shelby tossed the towel over the rack and slipped into her nightgown and bikini panties.

A sound in the bedroom made her jump.

“Daniel?” she called out.

No answer.

She grabbed the metal toothbrush holder and eased toward the door. “Daniel?” she called out, louder this time, her heart lodged in her throat.

As the bathroom doorknob turned, she remembered that she hadn’t locked it and dived for the handle and the locking mechanism, twisting hard.

She got it locked. With her pulse slamming against her veins, she stood in her nightgown, holding the toothbrush holder and wondered what the hell to do next.

Chapter 10

Daniel paced in front of Kate’s desk. “I don’t like what’s happening. The attack at the school made it clear that Shelby is still a target. Whoever is after her won’t stop until they’ve caught her and used her for whatever they hope to accomplish.”

Kate sat in the leather chair in her robe, looking no less regal than if she wore one of her tailored gray suits. “I don’t know what else to do. She’s at risk because of me. Until I know who they are or what they want, I can’t do anything about it.” She rested her face in her hands. “All I can do is pray that you’re always there to keep her safe.”

“She’s got a mind of her own and she’s not afraid to use it.”

Kate smiled. “She’s like her grandfather. Stubborn man.”

“The point is, she doesn’t take kindly to being followed around and putting her life in someone else’s hands.”

“For the time being, she’ll have to get used to it. She’s not safe.” Kate stood and cinched the robe at her waist. “It’s late, Daniel. Even a good bodyguard needs his rest. Go to bed. We can worry about this again in the morning.”

He was ready. The few minutes he’d been talking to Kate, he’d been farther from Shelby than he’d been since he was assigned to protect her. His instincts were to go to her and make sure she was all right. Not that much could happen to her in the relative security of the Winston Estate. Still, he didn’t trust anyone but himself to ensure her safety.

Kate drifted off toward the kitchen for a cup of tea while Daniel hurried up the curving staircase and along the landing to the door to Shelby’s bedroom. He leaned his ear against the thick wood paneling and heard nothing. He tested the door. It was unlocked, and he debated whether or not to knock or barge in and demand she lock the door. Instead, he opened the door, reached in and twisted the lock, then closed the door again. No use alarming her. She was probably already asleep. Daniel went to his own room to get ready for bed.

As he closed his door behind him, he heard a noise from Shelby’s room.

He crossed to the connecting door and listened.

The noise sounded again…and he could swear he heard Shelby calling his name. He could be mistaken; the sound was so soft he could have imagined it.

Then the noise sounded again and Shelby’s voice called out, louder this time.

He tried the door and discovered it was locked and cursed himself for locking the other door before checking to see if Shelby was okay. Pulling his weapon from the holster beneath his jacket, he performed a hard side kick with his heel close to the locking mechanism. The door frame splintered, but the door didn’t give. He kicked again and the door flew open, the frame shattering.

“Daniel?” Shelby called out from inside the bathroom. “Please tell me that was you,” she said, her voice breaking as if it caught on a sob.

“It’s me,” he responded, arriving at the door to the bathroom as she opened it and threw herself into his arms. He caught her and held her against his body with his free hand, his gaze panning the room. Nothing moved; the room was empty except for the two of them.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I’d just gotten out of the shower when I heard a noise in my room. Then the doorknob twisted. I got to it in time to lock it.” She looked up, her eyes wide, her fingers digging into his shirt. “Please tell me it was you.”

He shook his head. “Sorry, sweetheart, it wasn’t.”

Shelby closed her eyes and pressed her forehead to his shirt. “I could have been imagining it. With all that’s happened, my mind could be playing tricks on me.”

He didn’t believe it for a minute. “Had you locked your bedroom door?”

She nodded. “I’m pretty sure I did.”

“Wait here.”

Her fingers tightened on his shirt. “I’d rather not.”

With her tucked in the curve of his arm, he led her through the connecting doorway to his bedroom door. He gripped her arms and moved her to the side of the door. “Lock this behind me and don’t open it until I tell you to.”

Opening the door, he pointed his weapon out into the hallway, then poked his head out, glancing in one direction and then the other. The hallway came to a dead end to the left, and the right led toward the staircase. No one stirred; nothing moved.

Carefully turning the knobs on the other doors in the hallway, he checked inside. Two of the rooms were empty. The room Patrick was to stay in was empty, as well. Daniel hurried down the hallway to the staircase and stared down at the floor below.

Kate Winston walked toward the stairs, carrying a cup. She glanced up and gasped. “Daniel? Is something wrong? I thought I heard a crashing sound.”

“I don’t know.”

“There must be, or you wouldn’t be carrying a gun.” She looked around her and back up to him. “Is Shelby all right?”

“Yes. If you don’t mind, I’ll do a security check of the house.”

“Please, by all means.” She waited at the bottom of the stairs as he checked the other rooms on the second floor. When he returned, she met him halfway up the stairs. “Anything I can do?”

He shook his head. “No. I’ll finish my check. You can go to bed. Your room is clear.”

“Thank you, Daniel.”

The sound of a key scraping in the lock on the front door echoed across the foyer, Daniel turned toward the sound.

The ornate door opened and Patrick O’Hara entered, closing the door quietly behind him. When he turned, he started. “Oh. I’m sorry, did I wake you?” His gaze went to Kate, his look one of longing.

“No, we were up.” Kate held up her cup, descending the stairs. “Can I interest you in a cup of tea? Daniel was doing a last-minute check of the house.”

“Shelby?” Patrick asked.

“In my bedroom for the moment. She’s okay.” Daniel descended to the first floor. “I’ll only be a few minutes.” He left Kate and Patrick in the foyer and checked all the rooms on the main floor, testing the windows and door locks to ensure they were secure. When he passed the kitchen on his way back to the stairs, he saw that Patrick and Kate sat at the bar, talking softly, mugs of steaming tea in front of them.

Daniel hurried back up the stairs and knocked softly on his bedroom door. “Shelby, it’s me, Daniel.”

She opened the door.

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, then opened his arms.

Shelby went to him, burying her face against his chest, her body fitting close to his. She wore nothing but a sheer nightgown that barely covered her bottom, and he could see teasing shadows of her breasts beneath the thin fabric.

Holy hell. If he’d thought he could resist her, he was sorely mistaken. Once he had his arms around her, there was no going back.

She ran her hands across his chest and around his middle, hugging him closer, her hips pressed against his.

His groin tightened, blood rushing to his head and lower to his throbbing member. The warmth of her skin beneath the sheer nightgown burned through, igniting flames inside him.

He lifted a hand to the back of her head, twisting his fingers in her hair, tugging her head back. “I didn’t want this to happen.”

“So why are you letting it?” She lifted her full, plump lips toward his.

“I can’t help myself.” He took her mouth, crashing down on her, thrusting through her teeth to caress her tongue with his. She tasted minty and fresh, warm and wet.

He reached down, cupped her bottom and lifted with one hand, the other still holding his pistol.

Her legs curled naturally around his waist and her arms went around his neck.

Her silky panties and his denim pants were all that stood between them.

Without breaking their kiss, he walked her to the bed and let her slide down his front to her feet.

Shelby pulled the weapon from his hand. “Can we set this aside?”

“I don’t know. I think I’m in dangerous territory.”

“Damn right you are.” She shoved his jacket over his shoulders and he let it drop to the floor. When she reached for the buckles on his shoulder holster, he shoved her hands aside and worked them himself.

Meanwhile, she unbuttoned his trousers and ran the zipper downward, releasing his member into her palm.

Daniel jerked the holster off and tossed it onto a nearby chair. Then his hands slipped beneath her nightgown, cupping the full roundness of both breasts—so warm, soft and tipped with the tightest buds. He pushed the gown upward and claimed one of the rounded orbs, sucking it between his lips and tonguing the intriguing tip.

Her back arched, her hand pressing against the back of his head, urging him to suck the nipple deeper into his mouth.

He complied, licking the areola, nibbling the bud with the edges of his teeth while his hands roved over her waist and down to the elastic on her panties. Sliding his fingers beneath the fabric, he cupped her bottom, tracing the line between her cheeks.

Her hands grew restless, shoving his trousers down his legs.

He stopped her long enough to unearth his wallet from his back pocket and toss it on the bed. Then Daniel toed off his shoes and stepped out of the pants, kicking them to the side. He yanked his shirt up over his head and threw it across the end of the bed. Impatient to reveal all of her, he grabbed the hem of her nightgown and tugged it up over her head.

The gown flew across the room and he stepped back, his hungry gaze raking over her naked body, the panties the only thing in the way of him feasting on her.

The longer he stared, the brighter the pink in her cheeks became. She raised her hands to cover herself.

He caught her wrists. “Don’t.”

“Then quit staring and do something.”

He laughed, dragged her into his arms and reveled in the feel of her breasts pressing against his chest. “Bossy much?”

“Don’t make me wait. I’m on fire.” She slipped out of his embrace and scooted up onto the bed.

Staring down at her delectable body, Daniel knew he was doomed. “This goes against all the rules.”

“I’m betting you follow all the rules.”

“I do.” This woman had him so tied in knots, he couldn’t back away.

Rules be damned.

The fire in his eyes had Shelby’s body burning. She caught the elastic of her panties, slipping them down her legs in a long, sensuous move designed to leave Daniel panting. “In this case, I think you can break them.” She let her knees fall to the sides.

Her entrance was slick and drenched with her juices. All she needed was him inside her, filling her.

He crawled up between her legs and kissed a path along the inside of her thigh to the center, the feathery-soft touches of his lips sending tingling electric shocks throughout her body.

Shelby ran her fingers down through the curls covering her mons, sliding a finger between her folds. She wanted him there.

Daniel tongued the tips of her fingers, pushing them aside to access the tiny strip of flesh packed with a plethora of nerves.

On the first flick, she moaned, her back arching off the mattress.

The second one had her grabbing his hair, her fingers digging into his scalp. “Oh, my,” she whispered, her voice choked with desire.

Daniel slid two fingers into her and tongued her nubbin at the same time, catapulting her to the edge. “Yes! Oh, my, yes!”

He focused on that spot, flicking and tonguing until she hurtled over the edge, her body growing rigid, her insides a cascade of sensations, rippling over and over one another. Just when she thought she could die like this and be happy, Daniel moved away. “No!” she moaned.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He reached for his wallet, extracted a foil packet and tore it open. In seconds he’d rolled the condom down over himself and slid up between her legs, his shaft poised at her opening. “Here’s to breaking all the rules.” He thrust deep, her channel stretching to accommodate his girth.

Shelby pushed up, meeting his thrust and urging him deeper, the sensations exploding throughout her. She gripped his hips, guiding him out, then back in. Soon he settled into a smooth, steady rhythm, pumping in and out, increasing in speed with the tension in his body.

One final thrust and he held still, his member throbbing inside her.

Shelby wrapped her legs around him, her heels digging into his buttocks, holding him as close as he could possibly get. At that moment, they were one, connected in the most beautiful way.

After a while, he rolled her onto her side and fell to the mattress beside her, maintaining their intimate bond.

Lying in the crook of his arms, she couldn’t think of a place she’d rather be. The lack of sleep and the strain of being kidnapped and targeted again, not to mention the two weeks in captivity, pulled at her eyelids and she gave in, feeling safe and protected in her bodyguard’s arms. If only real life didn’t intrude, she’d be happy to stay like this forever.

Daniel held Shelby, her body pressed against his side. She fit perfectly in his arms, her soft brown hair brushing against his skin, her breath warming him.

For a long time, he refused to think, to let the logical side of his brain spoil the moment. But as Shelby’s breathing grew steady and deep, he had to face the facts—he’d screwed up. He’d had sex with the woman he was assigned to protect. It went against every rule in the books. He’d lost perspective, lost his self-control and, if he didn’t get back on track, he’d lose his focus.

And if he lost focus, Shelby’s life would be at risk.

Daniel extricated himself from the bed, sliding his arm out from under Shelby’s head. Bending over her, he brushed his mouth across her swollen lips, tasting her one last time before he steeled his resolve and got his head back on straight.

At twenty-three, she was tough, independent and completely irresistible.

And she was the former vice president’s granddaughter. Out of his social league.

And the most important detail was that she was Daniel’s job.

He lifted her in his arms, careful not to wake her, and carried her into her room, laying her on her bed.

She snuggled into the sheets without opening her eyes.

Daniel wanted to crawl in bed with her. Instead he stepped away, ensured her door was locked and checked that the latch on her window was secure and then left.

When he reached the connecting door to his room, he heard a soft knock. He tensed, his body on full alert.

“Shelby?” Patrick O’Hara’s voice called out.

Shelby stirred, her eyelids flickering open. “Granddad?”

“Are you all right in there?”

She sat up, the sheet falling down around her waist. Her eyes widened as she came fully awake. Her glance shot to the pillow beside her and then around the room, landing on Daniel where he stood in the doorway.

“Shelby?” her grandfather called out again. “I was just heading to bed and I thought I heard a noise or something. Are you all right?”

“I’m all right, Granddad, just tired.”

“Oh, okay. Goodnight, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Her gaze never strayed from Daniel, her eyes narrowing in confusion.

He felt pinned to the wall, but he couldn’t reassure her when he needed to put distance between them. Without a word of explanation, and using every ounce of resistance he could muster, he pulled the door closed between them. He couldn’t lock it since the frame had been destroyed.

Walking away was the right thing to do, but it didn’t make it any easier. Shelby would be mad, and she had a right to be. He’d been a jerk to take advantage of her. But he’d be more of a jerk if he continued down that same path. Ultimately, the job would end and he’d move on to his next assignment. Leaving Shelby behind.

As much as he’d resisted being her bodyguard in the first place, he didn’t relish leaving her in the end.

Chapter 11

Daniel tried to sleep, but knowing Shelby was only a few short steps away left him wide-awake, and full-on frustrated.

When the early light of dawn crept through his window, he knew he had to get out, breathe fresh air and clear his foggy brain.

He pulled on shorts and running shoes and headed downstairs and out of the house. He slipped through the gate, making certain it closed securely behind him. Only those with a need to know had the security code to enter, but anyone could get out with a single push of a button. He made a note to talk to Kate about other options that were more secure.

Ignoring the ever-present pain in his leg, he half jogged and half walked a mile before turning back. He didn’t want to be too far away from the estate should anything happen. With Shelby asleep in her locked bedroom, she should be all right for a while. And he needed the exercise, or his injuries from that fateful day of protecting Kate would never heal.

The sun had yet to rise on his return. When he was within a hundred yards of the gate, he stopped to tie a shoelace that had come undone.

Leaning against a tree, he bent, tied his shoe and happened to look up just as someone exited the Winston Estate on foot, wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a baseball cap. Despite the hat, Daniel knew who it was and anger spiked in him.

Did she want to be kidnapped again?

Shelby turned away from him and set off at a jog.

Adrenaline spiked and Daniel took off after her.

At a crossroad, she turned right and disappeared around the corner.

Still a good fifty yards behind her, Daniel ignored the pain in his knee and sped up, concerned. Shelby was out on her own, now on a busier street and no one around to keep her from being taken.

Daniel raced for the corner. Before he reached it, a large white SUV like the one that had been at the university the day before sped by, heading the same direction as Shelby.

Sprinting as fast as he could go, Daniel rounded the corner without slowing, in time to see SUV’s brake lights flash and the vehicle slow next to Shelby.

His heart thundering, Daniel yelled, “Shelby, run!”

Shelby had already noticed the danger and stopped on the sidewalk.

Move, Daniel willed her, still running to reach her in time.

As the vehicle slowed beside her, Shelby spun and ran back toward Daniel.

Without a gun or any other type of weapon, Daniel would only be able to shield her with his body. But he’d throw himself in the line of fire before he’d let a single bullet hit Shelby.

The SUV whipped into Reverse and backed up after Shelby’s running figure.

Daniel reached her before the SUV, grabbed her hand and ran with her, dragging her faster and faster.

The SUV swerved in an attempt to hit them.

Daniel veered away from the road and headed through a stand of trees between two large houses. As he and Shelby emerged on the other side of the trees, the SUV was there, heading directly for Daniel.

Daniel had to let go of Shelby or risk her getting hit along with him.

Pushing her one way, Daniel dived in the opposite direction, narrowly missing the crush of the SUV’s tires.

Shelby staggered and fell to the ground.

As Daniel picked himself up off the pavement, a man wearing a ski mask leaped down from the SUV and ran toward Shelby.

She lay on the ground, motionless.

When the man reached out to grab her, she exploded from the ground, kicked the man in the face and rolled out of reach.

About the time the man reached for her again, the back door opened and another man with a ski mask leaped out. Daniel arrived at the SUV at that moment and slammed the man into the side of the vehicle.

Startled by the attack, the man swung, his fist connecting with Daniel’s jaw. Daniel’s head whipped back, but he balled his fists and aimed for the man’s belly, landing a hard one to the guy’s breadbasket. He doubled over.

A scream behind him gave Daniel the necessary incentive to end the argument sooner. He raised his knee with a hard jerk, hitting the man in the nose. He went down, holding on to his face, blood streaming from beneath the dark ski mask.

Daniel spun toward the other guy.

He had Shelby in a headlock.

“One step closer and I’ll break her neck,” the guy growled.

“I’ll give you one chance to let her go,” Daniel bluffed, wondering how the hell he’d get Shelby away from the gorilla.

Shelby’s face was red and she clawed at the meaty arm wrapped tightly around her throat.

At a standoff, Daniel edged closer.

Shelby went limp and collapsed in her captor’s arms. She’d done nothing to deserve this. She was an innocent pawn in a game of politics and deception.

His heart in his throat, Daniel lunged for the man, rage driving him forward.

As he reached them, Shelby jabbed her elbow into her captor’s groin. The man let her go and grabbed for his crotch. Daniel slammed his knee into the man’s face and shoved him backward; he tripped over the curb and fell on his backside.

Daniel gripped Shelby’s hand and ran back the way he’d come, dragging her along with him, praying she had the strength to keep up. If the men who’d threatened them followed, he wasn’t sure he’d be so lucky to get her away the next time.

Shelby ran next to Daniel, gulping air into her lungs and shooting glances over her shoulder to gauge whether or not the bad guys were still following. The man she’d bested helped the one with the broken nose into the SUV. The driver sent the vehicle up over the curb in his effort to get away.

Daniel didn’t let her stop until they’d reached the entrance to the Winston Estate. He punched the code into the keypad and the gate opened. Once he’d shoved her through, he hit the close button and the gate slammed shut behind them.

Shelby collapsed on the ground and lay there for a full two minutes until her breathing returned to normal. The adrenaline still spiking through her veins made her sit up. “Thank you,” she said.

Daniel paced away, the color high in his cheeks. His eyes blazed and he breathed through his nose like an angry bull. He stopped in front of her, towering over her. “I don’t know what was going through your head. I’m not here to make sure you have a good time. I’m not here to make love to you. My primary goal in this assignment is to keep you safe. If you insist on pulling stupid stunts like that, you can find yourself another damn bodyguard.” He stalked away, leaving her on the ground by the gate.

She rolled to her feet and went after him. “Really? You think I asked to be grabbed off the street? You think I planned on having a secret identity connected to the former vice president of the freakin’ United States?” She grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop, though he refused to face her.

She marched around in front him and stood with her arms crossed over her chest. “I didn’t want a bodyguard in the first place.” Jabbing a finger into his chest, she went on, “And I sure as hell don’t want one who has a problem with sticking around. You couldn’t get up and get out of my bed fast enough.” He stood rock solid, his face poker straight, his flashing green eyes the only indication she was making him angrier.

“What’s wrong with you? Are you afraid you might like me? Afraid you’re not good enough for me? ’Cause let me tell you, bubba, you aren’t. I need a man who doesn’t judge anyone based on their lineage. A man who will love me no matter who my parents or grandparents are or what they did.” On a roll, unable to stop her tirade now that she’d started, she poked him again. “You know what you are? A scaredy cat. A big ol’ scaredy cat.”

He grabbed her finger and yanked her hard, slamming her against his chest. He caught her lips with his in a crushing kiss that stole her breath away and made her head spin.

When he shoved her away from him, she reeled backward.

He poked a finger into her chest. “For the record, I didn’t ask for this assignment. I was stuck with it. For the record, I don’t like babysitting little girls who don’t know what’s best for them. And for the record, I didn’t run away from you. Did you ever think I might have left because I didn’t want to make love to you again?”

That hurt like a punch to the gut. Shelby fought to keep from doubling over at the slam. “Good. Because I don’t want you touching me.” Damn. She tried to stop it, but her eyes teared up and her bottom lip trembled. “Ever again.”

Daniel stared at her, his jaw hard, his face impassive. Finally he eased her back into his arms and pressed his cheek against her hair. “You scared the crap out of me.”

“I thought you didn’t care.”

“I don’t want to.” He stroked her soft brown hair, twisting his fingers in the silken strands.

“But you do.”

“Yes.” He sighed and took her hand in his. “Let’s get you back to the house.”

With her hand tucked in his big, warm one, Shelby leaned against him as they walked back to the mansion.

Kate met them in the foyer, her brows coming together in a worried frown. “What’s wrong?” She glanced at Shelby’s legs. “Why are your knees skinned?”

Shelby hadn’t realized she’d been hurt. The adrenaline rush and near miss had blocked the pain. “I fell.”

“The hell she did. She was attacked again,” Daniel said.

“Dear God.” Kate wrapped her arms around Shelby. “Are you okay? Should I call the doctor?”

Shelby hadn’t been hugged by a female relative since her mother died and she’d been almost too young to remember. Kate’s hug was warm, welcoming and seemed genuinely heartfelt.

After nearly being taken again, Shelby let the woman hug her. She liked the way Kate Winston smelled of honeysuckle, and she was warm and soft. She could see how a man from the Outer Banks could have fallen for the pretty socialite.

“Shelby?” Her grandfather hurried down the stairs, dressed in jeans and a polo shirt. “What’s going on?”

The front door opened and Thad entered, followed by Jed Kincannon.

Thad smiled. “Looks like I’m just in time for the party. What’s going on?”

Everyone started talking at once. Shelby’s head began to ache and her skinned knees stung.

Daniel whistled to get everyone’s attention. “We aren’t accomplishing a thing.” He curved his arm around Shelby’s waist. “We’re going to clean up.”

“Yes, yes. Of course. Shelby’s injuries need tending to.” Kate waved toward the hallway. “Let’s take this discussion into the kitchen while Daniel takes care of Shelby. I’ll make breakfast, and we can talk about what we want to do.”

“Are you sure you don’t need me to help?” Patrick asked.

Shelby smiled. “You patched up all of my skinned knees as a kid, but I think I can handle this on my own.” She leaned close and kissed her grandfather’s cheek. “I love you, Granddad.”

“Not as much as I love you, little girl.” He patted her shoulder and followed Kate toward the kitchen.

Shelby had always been the only woman in her grandfather’s life, and he’d never dated anyone that she knew of. She’d assumed he hadn’t dated because he’d been too busy raising his daughter and then his granddaughter. Could it be that he had never gotten over his first love?

Shelby stared after her grandfather’s retreating figure. A little nip of jealousy was quickly overridden by the thought that her grandfather might still be in love with the beautiful and powerful Kate Winston. How sad. With her in her mansion and him in his bar on the Outer Banks, they couldn’t be farther apart.

Her heart aching for her grandfather, Shelby turned to follow Daniel.

“Wait,” Thad said. “You’ll need the first-aid kit.” Thad ran to the kitchen and returned with a red-and-white box.

“Thank you.” Shelby reached for it, but Daniel got there first. She frowned. “I’m not an invalid, you know.”

“I know, but I’d rather you concentrated on getting up the stairs unscathed.”

“Again, I think I can handle climbing and carrying a little box.”

Daniel gave her lopsided smile. “Are you always this argumentative?”

Patrick snorted from the hallway. “She can be a pill sometimes.”

“You’re not helping, Granddad,” Shelby shot back, crossing her arms as she turned on Daniel. “Are you always this domineering?”

“Let’s agree you’re argumentative and I’m domineering and maybe we’ll get cleaned up sometime today. We have bigger fish to fry, and arguing down here isn’t getting the oil hot.”

Shelby started to give him a scathing reply, thought better of it and clamped her lips shut.

Daniel led the way to her room where she sat on the edge of the big tub in the bathroom while he cleaned the gravel from her skinned knees and applied ointment and bandages. His hand lingered on her thigh and she held her breath, waiting for him to lean close and claim a kiss.

When he didn’t, she wanted to scream with frustration. Instead, she turned the tables on him. “My turn.” She took the kit and stood. “Sit.”

“I can manage on my own.”

She gave him a meaningful stare and pointed to the edge of the tub. “Sit.”

With that gorgeous lopsided grin that made her go weak at the knees, he sat.

She wet a clean washcloth and dabbed at a gash on his cheek where he’d been punched. “You’re going to have a bruise.”

“I’ll live,” he said, his smile slipping as she leaned closer. “You don’t have to get so close.”

“Yes, I do.” She straddled his lap and sat with a smile. “I haven’t properly thanked you for saving me.” Shelby applied ointment to his cheek.

He caught her wrist in his hand and stared at her hard. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“When the threat is gone, you won’t need my protection. I’ll be reassigned.”

Her heart fluttered. She’d already come to that conclusion, but hearing him say it drove it home. Forcing a smile, she shook her hand free. “I know that. In the meantime, let me take care of you for once.”

His lips tightened, but he let go of her wrist. She applied a butterfly bandage to pull the edges of wound together and taped a gauze pad over it. “There. That shouldn’t leave much of a scar.” With her thighs rubbing against his, she could tell her position in his lap was having the desired effect. She patted his bandage softly and shifted her gaze to his mouth, tilting forward until her lips hovered over his. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.” She swept her mouth across his, her lips barely skimming his.

He sat like stone for an excruciatingly long moment, his hands bunching into fists.

Shelby thought he’d mastered his self-control and that she’d overstepped her bounds.

Then he cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard, his tongue sweeping into her mouth, claiming her in a dizzyingly powerful connection.

As quickly as he’d taken her, he stood and set her on her feet. “They’re waiting on us.” Daniel collected the items of the first-aid kit, threw them in the box, closed it and left the bathroom in record time.

Disappointment fused with raging desire. Shelby wanted to stand in Daniel’s way and demand he stay and face up to what they were feeling. The stony expression on his face made her step aside and allow him to pass.

“Get dressed and meet us in the kitchen in five minutes.” He didn’t ask, he demanded.

Shelby bristled, but clamped her teeth down on her tongue as Daniel crossed her bedroom and passed through the connecting door to his own. Once the door was shut behind him, she was tempted to rip it back open. He couldn’t lock it because the door frame was splintered. Instead, she marched to the bed, lifted a pillow and cocked her arm to throw it.

The door opened and Daniel poked his head through and he pointed at the pillow. “Don’t do it.”

Shelby launched the pillow and it hit the door as he closed it quickly.

Throwing the pillow didn’t fix the fact that the man was exasperating, but it made her feel better.

“Five minutes,” he reminded her through the closed door.

Part of her wanted to drag her feet and arrive in the kitchen in ten minutes just to spite him. How could he kiss her like that and then practically dump her off his lap and go about business as usual?

She dressed in her jeans and one of her better pullover blouses. The outfit was not nearly as nice as the slacks and cashmere sweater Kate had given her to wear, but they felt more like her and she felt more normal in them. Running a brush through her hair, she washed her face and applied a little blush to her pale cheeks and a bit of mascara to her eyes. Not that she wanted to look better for anyone but herself.

Slipping into her favorite sandals, she let herself out of her room, betting Mr. Bossypants was already in kitchen making plans for her without her input. She hurried down the stairs and found the kitchen by following the sound of voices.

“Well, the fact is she’s not safe in Raleigh.”

“The house is wired for security and the gate should help keep people out.”

“How does that explain someone being in her room last night?”

“We don’t know that for sure.” Shelby stepped into the room. “I could have been imagining things.”

“There have been too many attempts already. I’m afraid you’re not safe here,” Daniel said.

“Then I can go home?” she asked with a bright smile.

“No!” Kate and her grandfather both said at once.

They smiled at each other, and then her grandfather faced her. “It’s not safe at the bar.”

“I had no problems there last night.”

“But you had problems yesterday afternoon and this morning,” Daniel pointed out.

Shelby glared at Daniel, sitting quietly in a chair across the table, drinking coffee. “So I made a bad choice in going out without my watchdog. I won’t do that again.”

“And what about school?” Kate asked.

Daniel’s jaw tightened. “She’s not going.”

“The hell I’m not.”

“You got your assignments, you can work on them and turn them in when we get this thing resolved. Your instructors will work with you.”

“Maybe and maybe not.” Shelby crossed her arms over her chest. “Did anyone even bother to ask what I want to do?”

Her grandfather reached for her hand. “Honey, you need to listen to what these people are saying.”

“I can’t live like this. I’m just as much a prisoner in this house as I was in that basement.”

Daniel stood and waved his hand toward the door. “If you don’t like it, go.”

Her back straightened. “I just might.”

“No, either you will or you won’t, but stop straddling the fence.” He pinned her with his stare.

No one else said a word, each waiting expectantly for her response. “It’s my life.”

“Yes, it is. And if you step out of this house, off this property by yourself, you’ll end up in the hellhole you were in before, and maybe for longer than two weeks this time. And they might not be as nice to you. You might not even get bologna sandwiches. They could decide it would be fun to assault and torture you.”

The blood rushed from Shelby’s face and a cold shiver shook her. Her grandfather’s face paled and he shook his head, his eyes pleading with her.

“Daniel,” Kate warned.

“No, Kate. If she wants to go out on her own, she needs to know the truth. No sugarcoating.” Daniel stepped up to her. “If you leave, you might die this time.”

Shelby sucked in a breath, finding it harder to breathe than moments before, her hands growing clammy. She rubbed her palms on her jeans and stared down at the scabs just beginning to heal.

“Is that what you want?” Daniel asked softly.

She shook her head, her eyes blurring. “No.”

Kate stood and came to her side, laying a hand on her arm. “Then let us protect you. Let Daniel keep you safe until we can figure this out.”

“How to your propose to keep her safe if she’s not even safe in this house?” Thad asked.

“I could assign another agent to the detail,” Jed offered.

“Thank you, Jed,” Kate patted his hand. “I appreciate the offer, but after D’Angelis proved to be a traitor and his death took place in a public facility surrounded by law enforcement officers, I don’t know who to trust except my children and Daniel.”

“I would be willing to offer my own services,” Kincannon said.

Kate frowned. “You’re the director. You have another job to do. Finding who’s doing this to my family is as important as protecting my granddaughter.”

Thad leaned forward. “We could hire an independent bodyguard.”

Kate shook her head. “That goes back to my original point. I don’t trust anyone but my family and Daniel.”

Thad tapped his fingers on the table, his eyebrows dipping low. “I’m leading the investigation from the local law enforcement side. Though I wish I could be here, if we want to catch the person responsible, I can’t do both.”

Kate nodded. “I know you can’t and I won’t ask it of you. Which leaves us only one option.” She faced Daniel.

Shelby inched closer to him, despite his effort to frighten her.

“What choice is that?” Daniel asked.

“You have to get Shelby out of here.”

“And where do you want me to take her?”

“Away.” Kate waved her hand in the air. “Someplace no will think to look for her.”

Chapter 12

Daniel frowned. “Far enough away she won’t be found? That would be the moon.”

“We would be the only ones who know where she’s going. If the media and everyone else is in the dark about her location, whoever is determined to take her will not be privy to that information.”

“I don’t know, Mom. If she’s far away, Daniel will have no backup in case they get in trouble.”

An idea began forming in Daniel’s mind. Kate might be on to a plan that held merit. “I know of a place.”

Shelby looked at him, her eyes widening. “I can’t leave. I have school.”

“Like I said, you can bring your work with you and turn it in later when we resolve this case.”

“I’m glad you’re able to speak for my instructors.”

“It’s stay here and risk your life or go with Daniel and be safe.” Her grandfather reached for her hand. “Please, Shelby. Be reasonable. I love you and I want to be around for great-grandchildren someday.”

“Granddad!”

“I’m serious, Shelby. I’m not going to be around forever.”

“Don’t go pulling the age card on me. You’re in better shape than I am and will probably outlive me when I die of natural causes.”

“Enough talk about dying.” Patrick O’Hara straightened to his full, intimidating height. “You’ll go with Daniel, or else.”

Shelby laughed out loud. “Granddad, your blustery bull didn’t scare me when I was a child and it surely isn’t scaring me now. But since you feel so strongly, and I have no desire to spend more time in a dark basement, I’ll consider going with Daniel.”

Kate let out a heartfelt sigh. “Thank goodness. I really didn’t want to order him to kidnap you to keep you safe.” Kate smiled.

“It’s okay, I’ll go peacefully.” Shelby turned to Daniel. “And where, pray tell, are we going?”

He smiled. “Maine.”

She nodded. “That’s pretty far. And do you have a specific place in Maine in mind?”

His grin broadened, the idea solidifying and taking root. “I do.”

She waited for him to continue.

His decision made, he stated, “My folks’ house.”

Shelby backed away. “I can’t stay at your parents’ house. I don’t know them. Can’t we hole up in a hotel?”

“That would be too public. If we stay with my family, I’ll have built-in backup. My brothers are police officers in the small town where I’m from. One of them lives with my folks, the other comes by often. No one but the people sitting at this table will know where you are.”

“Maine?” Shelby shivered. “Isn’t it cold up there?”

“Not during the day at this time of year. The nights get chilly. My parents live along the coast in a small fishing town.”

“Sounds perfect,” Kate said. “How soon can you leave?”

Shelby shot a glance at her grandmother. Did she want to get rid of her?

Kate gave her soft smile. “I’d love to keep you here and get to know you better, but as long as you’re threatened, I’d rather have you safe.”

Daniel nodded. “I can be out of here as soon as we can rent a decoy car and get out of town.” He glanced down at Shelby. “Can you be packed in five minutes?”

“I can do better than that,” she said. “I can be ready in three minutes.”

Patrick pulled Shelby into his arms and stroked her hair. “I just got you back and I’m going to lose you again.”

“This time you’ll know where I am, Granddad.” Shelby kissed his cheek. “And Daniel will keep me safe.”

“I know. He’s a good man.” Patrick stepped back and offered Daniel his hand.

Daniel shook it, feeling like a fraud, knowing he’d betrayed this man’s trust by bedding his granddaughter. “I’ll take care of her, sir.” He owed them all his promise to keep her safe. Her life was his responsibility.

“I’ll be back in two shakes.” Shelby hurried toward the stairs.

Daniel’s gaze followed her.

Kate touched his arm. “You can’t let anyone else know where she is.”

“I know that.” He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to Kate. “I don’t want to take anything that could be tracked. Keep this. If I need to reach you, I’ll call from a public phone. For the most part, I’ll keep communication to a minimum.”

Kate took the phone. “Understood.”

“If anything happens, or you suspect you’ve been discovered, bring her back here,” Patrick said. “I don’t like having my girl so far away, especially when she’s in trouble.”

“Yes, sir.” Daniel backed away. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll get my things.”

He took the stairs two at a time and hurried down the hallway, past the room where he and Shelby had made love. Soon, they’d be alone on the road. He prayed he wasn’t making a mistake. What if the men trying to take her found her in Maine? They didn’t have a handy informant to question about her whereabouts. D’Angelis was inconveniently dead.

Daniel jammed his things into a duffel, checked his weapon, ensuring the clip was fully loaded, and knocked on the connecting door.

“Why bother knocking? The lock’s broken,” she called out.

He pushed through the door and entered her room.

She had her duffel bag slung over her shoulder. “I’m ready when you are.”

“Then let’s hit the road.”

She nodded. “Do you think this will work?”

“I hope so.”

Shelby glanced around the room. “I’ve never been so far away from home.”

“My family is pretty welcoming. They’ll do their best to make you feel at home.”

“I worry about my grandfather.”

“He’s on board with this and ready to do anything to keep you safe.”

“I’d feel better if I knew someone was looking out for him.”

“I’ll leave word for someone to keep tabs on him.”

She glanced up with a small smile, her eyes suspiciously moist. “Then I guess there’s nothing else. Let’s get going.”

Daniel’s heart pinched in his chest. He dropped his duffel and held open his arms.

Shelby walked into them. “Why is all this happening to me?”

“You know why.”

“I know. But it doesn’t make sense. I’m nobody.”

“Not to a lot of people, including your grandmother,” he said softly. Crooking his finger, he angled her chin up so that he could stare down into blue eyes awash with tears. “It’s going to be okay.”

“Promise?” she whispered.

He bent to brush a soft kiss across her mouth.

Shelby dropped her duffel, leaned up on her toes and deepened the kiss.

Daniel couldn’t back away and didn’t want to. She was like an addiction he was having a difficult time shaking. He crushed her against him, his fingers threading through her silky brown hair. If he could, he’d hold her like this forever.

He broke the kiss and he stepped back to keep from doing it again. “We need to go.”

“I suppose.”

When she reached for her bag, he got there first. Carrying both bags, he waved her forward.

Shelby descended the stairs first and ran to her grandfather.

He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Be safe, Shelby. I kinda like having you around.” His eyes glistened.

“I’ll miss you.” She hugged him tight and then stood back.

Kate Winston stepped forward and took Shelby’s hands. “I know we haven’t had a chance to get to know each other yet, but if you’re anything like your grandfather, you’re smart and pretty tough. Between you two—” she nodded toward Daniel “—you’ll be okay.” The older woman leaned forward and kissed Shelby’s cheek. “I look forward to spending more time with you in the near future. If you’ll let me.” Her smile was shaky when she let go of Shelby’s hands.

One of Kate’s cars had been brought around for them to take. Daniel threw their bags in the backseat and held the door for Shelby.

She slipped in and turned to wave as he shut the door.

Once they left the security of the Winston Estate, Daniel zigzagged through neighborhoods and out onto the main road toward the airport. He parked the car at one of the car rental places, grabbed his bag and Shelby’s and walked with her to the neighboring rental lot.

“Why didn’t we rent a car at the last one?” Shelby asked.

“If the car we drove was bugged with GPS, they could then find record of our rental there.”

“Oh.” She waited while Daniel secured a vehicle and then quietly climbed into the four-wheel-drive SUV he’d rented without saying a word.

Once they were on the road headed north, Shelby fell asleep leaning against the window, her dark eyelashes fanned across her cheeks. Daniel had to continually remind himself to keep his focus on what was ahead of him and what might be behind him. But he couldn’t help glancing over at her. She looked like a dark angel sent to Earth to torment him and make him question his dedication to the job.

When they found out who was trying to kidnap her and why, Daniel would ask to be assigned somewhere far, far away from the temptation that was Shelby. A career Secret Service agent didn’t have time for family or relationships.

Then why the hell couldn’t he get her out of his mind?

Shelby didn’t wake until the vehicle slowed. When she opened her eyes, it was to a congested six-lane expressway.

“Where are we?”

“Washington, D.C.”

“That means we only have nine more hours on the road.”

“Roughly.”

“Do you want me to drive so that you can stretch?”

“I’m doing okay for now.”

“Good, because I’m not good driving in traffic, but I could use a bathroom break when you get past all this.”

Once they got past the heaviest of traffic, Daniel pulled into a gas station and topped off the gas tank while Shelby went inside to find a bathroom. The door was locked and there were two women in line to use the facilities.

Shelby roamed the aisles, watching the door to the bathroom, waiting for her turn.

A man in the row with all the snack foods, one over from her, stared, his eyes narrowing so slightly, she wasn’t sure if she’d imagined it.

Shelby moved the opposite direction, glancing back over her shoulder.

The man was still watching her, his brows narrowing.

A cold tingle slithered down her spine. The last woman in line at the bathroom exited and Shelby made a dash for it.

Once inside, she took care of her needs and washed her hands. When she came out of the bathroom, she looked down the hallway toward the front of the store, wondering if Daniel had finished filling the tank.

The shuffle of feet behind her made her jump.

“Good, I was getting worried about you.”

Daniel moved in front of her, his brow furrowed.

Shelby slipped her hand in his. “Sorry. There was a line.”

Daniel curled an arm around her waist and guided her toward the door.

Shelby glanced back at the hallway to the bathrooms. A man turned his back to her and lifted a case of soft drinks. If Shelby wasn’t mistaken, it was the same man who’d been staring at her earlier. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze following her yet again.

A shiver rippled across her skin. Reasoning with herself, she figured the man worked there stocking shelves, and she was getting too paranoid for her own good.

Shelby didn’t say anything to Daniel, not sure what she’d actually say if she did. She settled back against the leather seat and tried to let it go. For the next hour, she looked behind them every five minutes for someone following their vehicle, a creepy feeling following her.

By the time they reached the outskirts of New York City, Shelby was ready to be there. Daniel hadn’t said much and he hadn’t made a move to touch or reassure her in any way.

“Do you want me to drive the rest of the way?” she asked.

“I’m used to making this trip. Why don’t you find something on the radio?”

She settled on an old Beach Boys song that reminded her of home, her father and the beaches she grew up on. After a minute of that, she was so homesick she switched the radio off.

“Why’d you do that? I like The Beach Boys. They remind me of home.”

“Same here,” she said.

He glanced at her and nodded. “I know you miss your home and grandfather, but you’ll be back soon enough.”

“Are you sure?” She stared out the window, wondering when this nightmare would ever end. When he didn’t respond, she glanced his way. “What if whoever is trying to grab me follows me to Maine? Won’t we be placing your family in danger?”

“No one will know where you are. And if they do happen to find us, the members of my family can take care of themselves.”

“I would hate to bring trouble to your hometown. What if someone is hurt? I’d never forgive myself.”

“As my mother would say, ‘Don’t borrow trouble.’”

Shelby’s mouth twisted into a wry grin. “And as my father would say, ‘Go with your gut.’”

“And what is your gut telling you?”

“There’s a storm rising out to sea, and things will get worse before they get better.”

Daniel pulled into the driveway of the house his parents owned on the beach in Bar Harbor, Maine. The sun had set and the stars and streetlights were shining brightly.

No sooner had he parked the SUV than the front door opened and his mother and father stood framed in the doorway, squinting at the strange car parked in their driveway.

Daniel stepped out of the vehicle and walked around to the front of it. “Mom, Dad, it’s me, Daniel.”

“Daniel!” His mother exclaimed, flying down the steps. “It’s Daniel, James.”

“I can see that.” His father chuckled, following his wife at a more sedate pace.

Daniel smiled. “I hope you don’t mind company on short notice.”

His mother reached him and enveloped him in a warm hug. “Oh, honey, you know you’re always welcome here. This is your home.”

Daniel hugged her back and then pulled back to face her. “Mom, I’m not alone.” He walked back to the car, pulled open the passenger door and held out his hand. “This is Shelby O’Hara.”

Shelby took his hand and let him help her to her feet. She smiled tentatively at his parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, we’re sorry to be arriving so late and without warning.”

Daniel cringed at the way his mother’s face lit up. She’d think he and Shelby were together. Nothing would make his mother happier than to see all her sons settled with wives and a couple of kids she could spoil.

“Oh, honey, we’re delighted to see Daniel. We came down to be with him when he was in the hospital after the shooting, but having him home is so much better.” She turned to her husband. “What’s it been, almost a year since he’s been back to visit?”

Daniel’s father nodded. “Thereabout.”

Daniel’s mother hugged Shelby as though she was a long-lost family member, then turned back to her husband. “Please, call me Lea, and this is James.”

Daniel’s father reached a hand out to Shelby. When she took it, he pulled her into a hug. “Any friend of Daniel’s is welcome.”

Her cheeks blushing pink, Shelby hugged James Henderson. “Thank you.”

“You know we had the extra bedroom converted into an office. Which leaves Daniel’s old bedroom. One of you is welcome to sleep on the couch….” His mother gave them a knowing look. “Unless, of course, you’re…together.”

“Lea,” his dad warned.

“We might be older, but we know what happens between young folk.” She leaned close to Shelby and whispered conspiratorially, “We weren’t married when Daniel was conceived.”

“Now is not the time to confess.” Daniel hugged his mother and father. “Shelby can have my room, I’ll sleep on the couch.” He grabbed their bags out of the backseat to avoid further questioning, but his mother wasn’t quite done.

“But since you two are together, that shouldn’t matter right?”

Daniel enjoyed the way Shelby squirmed. “We’re not…together. We’ve only known each other a couple of days.”

His mother waved a hand. “It only takes a moment to know someone’s the one. I fell in love with Daniel’s father the day I met him.” She took Shelby’s hand. “Come inside. I have some leftover clam chowder I can heat up. Do you like hot tea or the iced tea they love so much in the South?”

“I’d love some hot tea. But I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Be a bother,” Daniel said. “My mother loves to bother.”

“Mothers like to bother.” His mother squeezed her arm. “Don’t they, Shelby?”

Shelby stiffened.

“Mom, Shelby’s mother passed away when she was a little girl.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. How awful to grow up without her.”

“My grandfather raised me.” Shelby glanced at Daniel. “I think he did a good job.”

“I’m sure he did.” Daniel’s mother patted her arm and led her to the kitchen. “Now, you sit down there while I fix that cup of tea.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to find a bathroom.”

“Of course. Let me show you.”

Daniel’s father touched his wife’s arm. “Let Daniel. You and I can fix the tea. Personally, I’d rather have a cup of coffee.”

“You know you shouldn’t drink coffee at night. It keeps you awake.”

“If I want a cup of coffee, I’ll have coffee.”

“Don’t you take that tone with me, James. I have to sleep with you.”

Daniel tipped his head to the side and Shelby preceded him from the room, glancing back over her shoulder.

“Are they mad at each other?” she asked when they were halfway down the hall.

The sound of his parents arguing carried into the hallway. “No. That’s just the way they are. Mom takes care of Dad and he takes care of her.”

Her brow furrowed. “Kind of like me and my grandfather.” She sighed. “Good. I didn’t want to be the cause of a fight.”

“No, you’re not the cause of a fight. They love each other very much. Mom needs someone to need her, and my father lets her fuss over him.”

Daniel opened a door off the hall. “This is my old bedroom.” He entered and dropped her bag on the bed. “The bathroom is right across the hall.” He stepped back out into the hallway. “Make yourself at home, and if you need anything just ask. I’ll be in the kitchen.” He left her standing in the hallway to avoid the temptation of kissing her again. The last thing he needed was to get his mother’s hopes up. Being with Shelby was temporary.

He hurried away. He couldn’t keep Shelby’s situation to himself. His parents had to know what they were up against, should someone find Shelby here.

When he entered the kitchen his mother turned from the stove where a kettle of water had just worked up a steam. “Shelby seems very nice. How did you two meet?”

“Lea, that’s none of our business.”

“I’m his mother. I have every right to pry.” She raised her brows and directed a questioning look toward Daniel.

“I’m on assignment to protect her.”

His mother’s brows dipped. “Protect her from what?”

“She’s already been kidnapped and held captive once, and there have been other attempts made.”

“Oh, dear.” His mother set the kettle on a cool burner and turned. “Why?”

Daniel smiled. “She’s the granddaughter of Kate Winston.”

“The Kate Winston? The former vice president?” his father asked.

Daniel nodded.

“Oh, dear.” His mother pressed her hand to her chest. “Practically a celebrity.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” Daniel’s father asked, slipping his arm around his wife’s waist.

“Help me keep an eye out for anything suspicious.”

“Like what?” His mother leaned into his father’s embrace.

“Strange cars driving by on the street, strangers hanging around. If anyone calls to ask for Shelby, you don’t have any idea who she is. Let me know if anything is out of the ordinary.”

“We can do that.”

“And if at any time you feel unsafe or uncomfortable with us being here, let me know. We’ll leave. Shelby and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you two.”

Shelby entered the room at that time. “Seriously, I don’t want to be here if it’s going to put you in danger.”

“Don’t be absurd.” His mother opened the cabinet and retrieved four ceramic cups. “We’re a family of law enforcement officers. James just retired after thirty years as a police officer and police chief. Daniel’s brothers are both on the Bar Harbor police force.”

James nodded. “We’ll look out for you.”

“Thank you,” Shelby said.

Daniel’s chest swelled. He’d known he could count on his family to help him keep Shelby safe. He just hoped and prayed they wouldn’t need the help.