Deadly Obsession (10 page)

“Darlin'—” Chance extended a hand to her “—you were out for a couple minutes. You can't be too careful at this point.”

Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. She took his hand and let him pull her to her feet and into his arms.

Chance had wanted to hold her since she'd been knocked unconscious. Seeing her slumped over in her seat had brought back so many memories of men injured in battle, unable to get themselves out of the situation. Chance had carried his share of buddies from danger only to find they were dead. Their faces haunted his dreams. That hopeless, helpless feeling that he could do nothing to help them threatened to overwhelm him, even now.

Some of those feelings bled over into this situation. He hadn't been able to take care of Jillian immediately and, when he'd gotten to a safe location, he'd been unable to get her out of the vehicle without the help of the firefighters. Frustrated and helpless. Not something he ever liked being.

For a long moment he held Jillian pressed against him, smelling the lingering scent of shampoo in her hair and feeling her warmth and the softness of her body.

Gabe cleared his throat loudly. “If you plan on getting home anytime soon, you need to get in the vehicle.”

Chance eased Jillian to arm's length. “Okay?”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you.”

“Front or backseat?” he asked.

“I'll take the back. I might want to lie down.”

Chance caught Gabe's gaze.

Gabe nodded. “You should ride in the back with her. To keep an eye on her.”

Glad Gabe understood, Chance helped Jillian into the backseat, then ran around to the other side and slid in beside her. He rested his arm behind her on the seat. “If you need to, you can lean on my shoulder or use me as a pillow.”

She smiled. “Thanks, but I don't want to be a bother.”

As they left the hospital in the back of Gabe's SUV, Jillian sat up straight without touching Chance. By the time they reached the edge of town, her shoulders sagged.

“Come here.” Chance pulled her against him, holding her in the circle of his arm. “You've had a rough day.”

She laughed softly. “Tell me about it.” But she didn't pull away. Instead, she nestled against him and closed her eyes.

If he wasn't mistaken, she fell asleep halfway to the B and B.

“Is this where the rock hit?” Gabe asked softly, slowing at the curve against the cliff.

Chance leaned his head toward the window. “Yes.”

“I'll have someone get up there and check it out.”

“Thanks.”

As Gabe pulled into the yard in front of the bed-and-breakfast, Molly and Nova descended the steps and hurried forward.

Gabe shifted into Park. Chance was reluctant to move and wake Jillian.

Nova reached the SUV first. “Emma called to let us know you'd be coming. How's Jillian?”

“I'm fine.” Jillian sat up and blinked. “Just a bump on the head.”

“I've got towels warming in the bathroom,” Molly said. “I can help you with a shower.”

Chance got out, rounded the SUV and held out his hands. “I'll get Jillian, if someone can take the kittens.”

Jillian held out the two kittens.

Chance took them.

“Kittens? You have more than one now?” Molly laughed. “Are they like cells and they multiply?”

“You would think so.” Chance handed off the kittens to Molly and then held out a hand to Jillian.

Jillian stared at Chance, her brows wrinkling. “I don't need help. I'm really okay.” To prove it, once Chance pulled her to her feet, she stepped away from him. Immediately she swayed and her face turned white. “Well, maybe not—”

Chance scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bed-and-breakfast.

Nova hurried up the steps ahead of him and opened the door.

“Put me down,” Jillian said. “I'm just tired. My legs work fine.”

He didn't let go, but continued up the stairs. “I'm only helping you inside.”

Jillian crossed her arms over her chest. “Helping is offering an arm to lean on, not throwing me over your shoulder and carrying me like a caveman.”

“I didn't throw you over my shoulder, and I'm not a caveman, although the idea has its appeal.” He winked. “Just shut up and let me act macho. It's good for my ego.”

She frowned. “Pumping up your ego is completely unnecessary and not my responsibility. It's already enormous.”

He glanced down at her. “That hurt. And here I was, trying to be nice.”

Her frown deepened. “Really? Or are you just pulling my leg?”

“Now, I can't quite pull your leg if my hands are full of the rest of you, can I?”

Nova chuckled. “Playing with fire there, McCall.”

Maybe he was, but Chance liked sparring with Jillian. When she sighed and let him carry her inside, his chest filled with something he'd never felt before. A warmth that permeated his entire body and made him hungry for more.

Once inside, Jillian wiggled. “You can put me down.”

“Sorry. That's not happening.” He wasn't ready to let go of her and he wasn't willing to let her try the stairs on her own, fall and make her injuries worse. Besides, she was light. Her body pressed against his was doing crazy things to his insides and, well, after all that had happened, he couldn't let go. Not yet. Not anytime soon, for that matter. “This trip lasts all the way to the destination.”

Chapter 10

J
illian held on as Chance carried her up the sweeping staircase without breaking a sweat or breathing hard. Based on the hardness of his muscular arms beneath her knees and behind her back, and the solid wall of his chest pressed to her side, he worked out and stayed in shape. Why was she arguing with him? If the man wanted to carry her, she should shut up and enjoy the ride.

Maybe she was afraid. Not of being dropped or of being too heavy for Chance to handle, but afraid of getting used to how he was being nice to her. Afraid she'd mistake nice for him falling in love with her, a relative stranger.

Chance didn't stop at the top of the stairs. When he started for her bedroom, she shook her head. “I'm far too dirty to get right into bed. I'd rather get a shower first.”

Before she could tell him she could walk the few short steps down the hallway, he'd carried her into the bathroom and set her on the closed toilet lid.

She put up a hand. “I draw the line here. I can undress myself and take a shower without your help.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I wasn't able to do it on my own, I'd have Molly help.”

“Did I hear my name?” Molly popped her head in the doorway. “Need a hand?”

Jillian shook her head. “No, thanks. Unless it's to convince this man I don't need him to help me into the shower.”

Molly grinned. “Sounds like fun to me.”

Jillian glared, heat climbing into her cheeks. She'd been thinking the same thing, only she would never have said it out loud.

“I guess you're not in the mood with that bump on your head.” Molly clucked her tongue, letting her gaze sweep over Chance. “That's a shame, because he's hot.”

Jillian gasped. “Molly! You're almost a married woman.”

“Married. Not dead.” Molly touched Chance's shoulder. “Don't mind me. I tend to speak my mind. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.”

He grinned. “No offense taken. But I would feel better if she had someone with her to make sure she doesn't get dizzy and fall.”

“Fine.” Jillian wasn't going to convince the man otherwise. “Molly will stay with me.”

Chance backed out of the room and closed the door.

As soon as the door was closed, Jillian let her guard down and sagged a little.

“Oh, baby, you aren't feeling so fine, are you?” Molly turned on the water and adjusted the temperature. “Bath or shower?”

“Shower. I want to get in, get out and get to bed. I'm really tired from stripping wallpaper all day.”

“I assigned Nova to kitten duty, so no need to worry about them. They're being fed as we speak.”

Jillian unbuttoned her flannel shirt and pulled it off. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring more work for you here at the B and B.”

“Two kittens aren't work.”

Jillian laughed. “Give them time to get used to the place. I'll bet you won't be saying they aren't work, then.”

“Maybe not.”

Jillian slipped out of her shoes and jeans and stood in her underwear. Molly turned her back while Jillian finished stripping and stepped into the shower. “I'm not in the least dizzy, if you want to leave.”

“Are you sure?” Molly asked.

“I am. I won't be in here long.”

“Then I'll leave you to it. Promise you won't fall and crack your injured head on something? Chance won't forgive me if you do.”

“Why he should care, I don't know.”

“Well, it's obvious he does. And I don't want him to be mad at me.”

“I promise not to fall.” Jillian squirted shampoo into her hand and rubbed it into her scalp. “Go on. I know you have better things to do than babysit a grown woman.”

“Okay. I'll bring you a cup of hot cocoa.” The door opened and closed.

Jillian tipped her head back and scrubbed her hair, careful not to touch the bandage and bump on her temple. She rinsed the suds out of her hair and then washed all the old house dust from her skin. She used a citrus-scented soap and felt the tension and soreness dissipating, going down the drain with the dirt.

When she'd finished, she applied conditioner to her hair and was rinsing when the door opened. “Molly?”

“Not Molly,” a deep male voice said. “It's me, Chance. Just making sure you're okay. You've been in here a long time.”

With conditioner streaming down her face, Jillian couldn't open her eyes. “I'm fine, and almost done.” She finished rinsing her hair, her body burning hotter than the water. Chance was in the bathroom, on the other side of the shower curtain. And she was naked. All she had to do was pull back the curtain and invite him to join her.

She reached for the edge of the curtain before she realized what she was doing and snatched her hand back. Instead, she listened for the sounds of Chance leaving and the door closing behind him.

No sounds came to her in the bathroom. “Too bad he left. It might have been fun to share the shower.” She turned off the water and gripped the edge of the curtain.

A towel flew over the top of the curtain rod and draped down to within Jillian's reach. She squealed and almost slipped on the slick floor of the tub. “Chance?”

He chuckled. “Still here.”

She pressed a hand to her naked chest. “Damn. Don't you ever give up?”

“Not easily.”

Jillian bit her bottom lip, grabbed the towel and wrapped it around her body. “Tell me you didn't hear my last remark.”

“I didn't hear your last remark,” he said.

Jillian let go of the breath she'd been holding. Thank God. She wouldn't have been able to face him if he'd heard what she'd said.

“I'll be in the hall if you need anything.” He opened the door. “And for what it's worth, all you had to do was ask. I'd have said yes to sharing a shower.”

“Jerk!” She picked up the bar of scented soap and flung it over the curtain toward his head.

The door to the bathroom closed before the soap hit it and fell to the floor.

With the towel firmly anchored around all the important parts, Jillian slid back the curtain and stepped onto the floor mat. Chance was gone, but she could still feel his presence. Her anger was short-lived and by the time she dried herself, she was smiling at his casual flirting.

And he
had
been flirting. Why else would he admit to wanting to share a shower with her?

Wrapping another towel around her hair, Jillian looked for her clothes. The pile she'd left on the bathroom floor was gone. Molly had probably taken them down to be laundered. She couldn't ask for a better friend.

Covered sufficiently with the towel, Jillian pressed her ear to the door. She didn't hear anything. Perhaps Chance had gone to his room to gather his toiletries for his shower. Which would give Jillian time to make a dash for her bedroom, thus avoiding coming face-to-face with the man who now knew she wanted to shower with him.

She flung open the door and hurried into the hallway and almost tripped over Chance leaning against the wall.

He gripped her arms, pulling her against his chest to steady her. “I thought you said you weren't dizzy.”

“I'm not.” She glanced down at his feet. “Your big feet were sticking out. I tripped.”

He pushed her to arm's length and stared down at her. “My apologies.”

Jillian took a step back, out of his reach, her arms tingling where he'd touched her skin. If she didn't get away from him soon, she might ask if she could join
him
in the shower. And what would that get her? She'd shrivel up like a prune and be heartbroken when he left.

No. She was better off steering clear of entanglements. Straightening her shoulders, she said, “I survived in the shower by myself. I think I can make it to my bedroom.”

He nodded. “Then I'll leave you alone. Have a good night.”

Jillian stood for a moment. That was it? He wasn't going to insist on walking her to her door, or carrying her to her bed? Jillian's core heated at the thought of Chance carrying her when all she wore was a towel that could easily slip open...

Hiding her disappointment, Jillian tilted her chin and moved past him. If she put a little sway in her hips, so be it. The man needed to know what he was missing by giving up too soon.

She made it all the way to her door, and he hadn't said one word.

Fine. What was she trying to accomplish anyway? She turned the knob and was about to enter when his voice stopped her.

“Jillian?”

She turned slowly, her heart in her throat. Would he tell her he wanted her?

“Leave the connecting door between our rooms unlocked. I'll check on you in the night like the doc advised.” He held up his hands. “It's either me or Molly, but I'd rather you didn't leave your door to the hallway unlocked.”

Jillian stared at him, her mind taking in what he'd just said. Leave the door unlocked between them? Her thoughts sprinted ahead of her, the possibilities endless and titillating.

“Don't worry,” he said, his mouth quirking upward at one corner. “I won't take advantage of you. I made a promise to the chief to look out for you.”

“Okay.” Jillian entered her room and closed the door, leaning against it, her pulse pounding. How was she supposed to sleep when Chance could be entering her room at any time during the night?

She let the towel drop to the floor and crossed the room to the lock on the connecting door. With a quick flick, she unlocked her side. He'd have to unlock his before he could enter. Standing in front of the door naked, Jillian closed her eyes and willed Chance to twist his lock and check on her now.

After a few moments, Jillian realized how silly and pathetic she must look. He said he wouldn't take advantage of her. Yeah, he said he'd have taken a shower with her, but he might have been kidding.

Jillian turned away, unwound the towel from her head and reached for panties and a nightgown, opting for her best and sexiest.

Just in case.

Once she was dressed, she sat on the cushioned stool in front of the dresser mirror and combed the tangles out of her damp hair. Still, Chance hadn't unlocked his side.

With a sigh, she reminded herself that she wasn't interested in a really short relationship with a man destined to leave when the wedding was over. With that thought firmly planted in her head, she climbed into the bed and pulled the quilt up to her chin, feeling a little sad.

A soft tap on her hallway door made her abandon the bed and hurry to answer.

Molly stood on the other side, carrying two mugs of steaming, sweet-smelling liquid. “I thought I could sit with you long enough to share a cup of cocoa.”

“I would love that.” She turned back to the bed and climbed in, pulling the blanket up around her. Then she patted the bed beside her. “Have a seat.”

Molly sat beside her, kicked off her shoes and crossed her legs. “Nova made a bed for Jack and Jill in the laundry room. They both ate and are now fast asleep on a fleece blanket. That will give you a night of uninterrupted sleep.”

“Thank you for all you've done.”

“Me? You're the one managing my wedding. I wouldn't have had a clue what to do. How do you know all this wedding stuff?”

Jillian grinned. “The internet.”

“You are such a good friend.” Molly touched her knee. “I feel like we've known each other forever and it's only been two years.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

“The chief filled me in on what happened today. I wish I knew who was doing all this. I'd take them out,” Molly said, her tone fierce, her eyes flashing. “You're one of the nicest people I know. You don't deserve to be terrorized.”

“I can't figure out why. I don't recall making anyone mad enough to hurt me. I've been here two years, doing the same thing—selling real estate. What's different?”

Molly stared down into her mug. “Seems like it all started when you bought the house.”

“Oh, please. Don't tell me you think a ghost crashed Olie Olander's truck into my Jeep.”

“No, of course not. But do you think someone is trying to scare you away from it?”

Jillian sipped her cocoa. “It's been empty for seventeen years.”

“Maybe it's hiding secrets. Have you looked for any hidden panels or doors? Are there any loose boards in the floor?”

Jillian snorted. “There are loose boards everywhere and half the walls are exposed to the beams. We've ripped out cabinets, torn up old flooring and peeled wallpaper. Short of bringing in a bulldozer and knocking it down, I don't know what else to do.”

Molly lifted her brows.

“I'm not bulldozing that house. It's my home and no one is going to scare me away from it or from Cape Churn.”

“I don't blame you, but I also don't want my best friend and wedding planner hurt.”

“Don't worry, Molls,” Jillian said. “I'm going to see you through your wedding, come hell, high water or ghosts.”

Molly smiled and took Jillian's empty mug from her. “I'd better let you sleep now. Surely everything will be brighter in the morning.”

When Jillian started to rise, Molly held up her hand. “I'll lock up on the way out. You just lie down and get some sleep.”

“Yes, Mother.” Jillian winked. “Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I love you like a sister. And tomorrow, if you go back out to your house, you can leave the kittens here. That would be one less thing to keep an eye on.”

“Thank you. I'm sure they'll be safer here than among all the construction.”

Molly twisted the lock on the doorknob, let herself out and closed the door behind her.

Suddenly more tired than she could remember being, Jillian stretched out on the bed and pulled the blankets up around her chin.

If Chance had plans to ravage her body, he'd have to wait now. She was too tired to participate. Maybe in four hours when he checked on her, she'd be up to seducing the man.