Eve Langlais (9 page)

“You need to calm down. You can’t let the twins see you like this. What have you told them about their father?”

Suzie squirmed in his arms. She didn’t want to say. She knew Hunter would disapprove. In a low whisper, she said, “I told them their daddy was dead.”

Hunter winced. “Okay, I’m sure you had a good reason for that. You’ll need to have a talk with them about strangers again. If I were you, I wouldn’t leave them alone, even in the yard for the next little while, just in case. I’ll make some calls and find out if you have anything to worry about. I don’t suppose you’ll tell me their father’s name? If I can locate him and he’s nowhere near here then we can easily clear this up.”

Suzie couldn’t tell him. What if, by saying his name, she conjured him up somehow?
Do names have
power?
Could she take that chance? Slowly, she shook her head.

Hunter didn’t press her. “I’m going to leave for a little while. I want to take this information to the office and see if Owen can find anything out. Will you be all right for a little bit?”

Would she? All she wanted to do was crawl into a corner and cry. But that wouldn’t solve anything, and her babies needed her. Suzie took a deep breath. “I’ll be fine. I’ll lock the doors after you leave.”

“I’ll be back in a few hours,” Hunter said. He tilted her chin up and looked her in the eyes. The blue of his eyes reflected back like a calm lake, soothing and gentle. “I’ll do everything I can to keep you and the kids safe,” he said, and she believed him.

For just once, she wanted someone else to take on the burden she’d shouldered for the last three years. Fear could be a heavy weight to carry all alone. It would be nice to finally share that load. To not live constantly looking over her shoulder.

He kissed her lightly on the forehead, a comforting kiss like the one you’d give a child who is hurt, and left.

Suzie stayed in the kitchen a few moments more to collect herself. She needed to put on a brave face for the children. She couldn’t let her paranoia affect them. It was bad enough she trembled in fear. The last thing she needed was a chorus to go along with the screaming in her head.

She took a deep, calming breath and walked into the living room. “Who’s ready to play ‘I Spy’?” she said with false cheer.

* * * *

Hunter simmered, his anger a pot ready to boil over. He wanted to kill the bastard who’d put such a scare into Suzie, but he was even more pissed with himself. This was supposed to have been a nice day.

Should have been a nice day. And even though he’d been there, something bad had happened, and he’d been unable to prevent it. He’d failed them. It didn’t matter that no one could have predicted this. There was no excuse. He should have been more watchful, had his guard up. But how could he have known they’d need protecting?

33

No excuse!
And just where had this protective, guard dog attitude he had toward Suzie and her children come from? When had he decided to become their champion? Hell, he couldn’t even blame this on sex. The comforting hug and kiss on the forehead he’d given her was the closest they’d gotten yet.

But, right now, he wanted to squeeze the neck of not only the perv from the park that had so frightened her, but also the jerk of an ex-boyfriend who had her so terrified. The look of absolute terror on her face was not something he ever wanted to see again. Not on hers or anybody else’s face. He needed to fix this. He wanted her to smile again.
Damn it, I am turning into a pansy.

No
, his sly inner voice said,
you finally found someone to care about
. Several someones.

He stormed into the agency office with only the barest grip on his rage.

“Owen!” he bellowed.

“What?” said Owen, startled from his computer screen.

“I need a favor. I need you to look up the ownership of a dark blue, four door sedan, partial plate ending in O8M.”

“Sure. What’s this about?”

“Neighbor of mine’s child got accosted in the park by some man. She’s afraid it’s her ex coming to take the children. I told her I’d look into it.”

“That’s not good. No problem, I’ll get right on it,” said Owen, his fingers already skipping over his keyboard. “So, tell me, is this neighbor hot? I don’t mind if she’s got a couple of kids, so long as she’s hot.”

“She’s not available!” Hunter growled. Why he lied, he didn’t know. But he knew the thought of her with another man made him want to punch something. Hard.

“Sorry, Hunter. Just asking. Anyways, I think I found the car.”

“Who’s it belong to?”

“Not your suspect. The car was stolen last night. Sounds like your neighborhood has itself a problem. I’ll check the sex offender registry to see if there’s anybody on their list in your area. But my advice is, keep the children close till the cops catch the stranger or he moves on.”

“Damn! Well thanks, Owen. I owe you one. Oh, and any word yet on the Dragon?”

“Still working on it. We managed to get somewhere with his past. Apparently he set up house with some girl back when he was teaching. Even got her pregnant. We’re still trying to find out her name so we can locate her and see if he’s contacted her.”

“Let me know when you hear anything. I’m going to do some poking around of my own before heading out.”

Hunter called in some favors—the cops had appreciated his help on a couple of “bizarre”

incidents— but no one had anything to add to Owen’s report. The stolen car had been recovered. No prints. The thief had wiped the car down before ditching it. They promised to step up the neighborhood patrols, though.

With nothing left to do, and concerned about Suzie and the twins, he headed back home on his bike.

His mind was full of the dark things he’d do to the man who’d made Suzie and Jared look so scared.

34

Suzie heard Hunter’s bike pull in next door around supper time and stupidly felt relieved. For some reason, having Hunter nearby made her feel safer, which made her kind of mad. What was she now, some weeping damsel in distress needing a man to save her?
No, I’m a scared mother who’s got no one else to
turn to for help, and for once, it feels nice to know that someone else just might be looking out for me and the kids.

As she readied the kids for bed, she pasted on a smile for them. They’d already forgotten all about the afternoon’s drama at the park and were chattering away. If only Suzie could forget as easily.

The kids tucked in for the night, Suzie double checked the locks on her doors and windows before she grabbed her baby monitor and went out back on her rear deck to sit down. Looking up at the sky, she tried to not let her paranoia and terror overwhelm her. Not an easy task, though. Her fear crept in like a spider, binding her tight in its cocooning thread, and it seemed the more she tried to fight it, the tighter she became caught.

A thud startled her, and she looked up to see Hunter had come over the fence, and in some feat of dexterity she’d missed, managed to bring two open beers with him.

“Here,” he said, handing her a sweating brown bottle. “Figured you could use one.”

Suzie tipped the bottle and chugged half of it before saying, “Thanks.”

He just arched a brow at her and then, as if not to be outdone, chugged his entire bottle.

Men! Always have to one up a girl
. But he did manage to make her smile.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“Not really. I guess it’s stupid to be so scared, but dammit, you don’t know what their father was like.”

“Are you sure it was him?”

“No.” She sighed. “And the chances are that it was just some stranger looking to lure Jared, which is just as bad. What kind of world do we live in nowadays that we can’t even go to the park without fear?”

“The world has become a scary place,” agreed Hunter. “But you know, you can’t always run from what you fear. Sometimes you need to stand your ground and face it down.”

“What do you know about fear?” she scoffed. “You’re big and strong. Who the hell is going to tell you what to do, or threaten you?”

“Only someone with a death wish,” he joked. Suzie almost smiled again. “And for your information, I know a lot about fear. I just don’t show it. In my line of work, I face things sometimes that best belong in nightmares. But I learned a long time ago that giving into my fear didn’t accomplish anything. And running never works.”

“Worked so far,” muttered Suzie, taking a swig from her beer.

“No it hasn’t or you wouldn’t be so terrified. I know your ex did some bad things to you, and I don’t expect you to tell me. But to always be running . . .” He sighed. “It’s not a life, Suzie, for you or the children. Maybe it’s time to stop hiding and face him, once and for all.”

“I can’t,” she whispered dejectedly. She’d need to be courageous and strong to do that, something she’d never been around him.

“You can, and if you need a friend to be the rock at your back, I’m available.”

“Why would you offer that?” she said, turning to look at him, puzzled at his offer. “You’ve only known me for a couple of days.”

“Long enough to know you’re a good mother and person. I also know that your children are very sweet and don’t deserve to be hurt. We might have only met a few days ago, but that doesn’t mean I don’t consider you to be my friend.”

“We’re friends now, are we?” said Suzie. What an odd concept. Friends with a man that she wanted to jump so badly it made her kitty hurt.

“Yes,” he said with a grin. “Whether you like it or not. So get used to me coming over.”

35

Suzie laughed. A friend. God, it had been so long since she’d had one. She’d spent so much time running and surviving, and just being a mom, that she hadn’t had the time.

“Does this mean you’re going to start borrowing sugar and stuff?” she asked teasingly.

“Yes, and probably milk too. I always forget to buy some.”

“And you’ll babysit for me when I start dating?”

“Dating?” Hunter sat up straight, brows arched high. “Who are you going to date?”

“I don’t know. But I think it’s time I started again. The kids could use a little masculine influence in their life and I’m tired of being alone. Know any decent single guys?”
Someone just like you
, she thought.

“Nope. None of the guys I know are good enough for you and the twins.”

Suzie almost laughed. If she didn’t know better, she’d have said he sounded jealous. Which was silly, wasn’t it?

“Pity. So, where do you find your dates?” she asked.

Hunter squirmed on the deck, and even in the faint light coming through the back sliding door, she could see the heightened color in his cheeks.

“I—um. I don’t really date much,” he finally stammered.

Suzie just arched a brow at him and smirked. Just like she thought, women threw themselves at him.

Bloody guy probably didn’t even have to try.

“Maybe I should buy a book about dating first. It’s been so long, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do anymore.”

“Let me help you refresh your memory,” Hunter murmured, and then to Suzie’s shock, he turned and, cupping her face in his hands, pulled her in close for a kiss.

Actually, it was less a kiss and more like a shockwave. As soon as his lips touched hers, Suzie felt a wave of heat rocket through her body. His lips slid across hers, coaxing them open, and Suzie felt heat blossom in her body. She trembled and leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his solid waist. The warmth of his body and the subtle scent of his aftershave was like an aphrodisiac, and she groaned against his mouth as wet heat pooled in between her thighs.
God, he feels and tastes so good
. Suzie drank him in, his essence and warmth, like a sponge immersed in water.

His fingers left her cheeks and slid into her hair so he could kiss her more intently. His tongue delved deep inside her mouth to dance with hers. A sinuous dance that had her panting and aching. She pressed herself tightly against him, enjoying the feel of his hard body against hers, wanting to get closer. .

. To feel his—

A cry from the baby monitor beside her had her pulling away from Hunter, her dazed senses still reeling from the scorching fire his kiss had ignited.

“I’ve got to go,” Suzie mumbled, and stumbling slightly—her legs weak and wobbly—she went into the house to take care of her children, leaving Hunter alone.

* * * *

Out on the deck, Hunter leaned back and groaned.

Oh, by the higher powers, she tastes so sweet.
He’d thought there was no way she’d feel or taste as good as she looked.
I was wrong
. His entire body felt consumed with lust, his erection a flaming rod that threatened to burn through his jeans. If it hadn’t been for the cry of the child, he’d have probably taken her right there on the deck. So much for being her friend. When she’d mentioned dating, his mind had screamed,
No, you’re mine!
and he’d felt an urge to punch the non-existent man she was talking about dating.

Hunter had never felt jealousy before, and he didn’t like it one bit. He wanted her with a passion and urgency that was almost frightening in its intensity.
Why her and why now? Have I finally fallen in love? Am I
ready for marriage?
He knew Suzie wasn’t the casual type, and the twins deserved better than someone who 36

would use their mother and leave.
But am I capable of being the man she and the children deserve?
Or did his father’s genes run too strongly in him? Would he turn into a cold, unfeeling man who made her miserable?
Mother isn’t miserable
, said that stupid inner voice.
And I am not my father
.

Damn, he wished his mother was here. Perhaps she’d be able to tell him if what he felt was just a bad case of lust or—gulp—love.

* * * *

Damian Draco, also known as Phineas Porter and the Dragon, watched with soulless eyes from across the street. So this was where his little brood mare had thought to hide herself. Suburbia, as the mundanes called it. Stupid cow. Did she really think she could hide from him? His magic, while perhaps non-existent on this side of the boundary, didn’t mean he’d lost his dangerous edge. After all, he hadn’t stayed alive this long due to magic alone. Cunning and ruthlessness required no magic. This new neighbor of hers might be a bit of a hassle, though. The man looked like he could take care of himself, and he seemed to have appointed himself their guardian. No matter. He couldn’t stand guard over her night and day.