Every Move She Makes (15 page)

“I don’t know. I hope not.”

“What about Mom’s party tomorrow? We certainly don’t need any problems at a family celebration.” Her voice rose. “It’s too late to cancel the caterer now.”

“Cancelling is probably a little extreme.” Dan rested a hand on his wife’s shoulder.

Rachel straightened against the cushions. “I could go to a hotel.”

“You aren’t going anywhere.” Ford sat beside her. “For one thing, with that concussion, you’ll have to be watched tonight. We don’t wake people up every couple of hours anymore, but someone needs to keep an eye on you to make sure your symptoms don’t worsen.”

“You and I can take turns, dear.” Olivia touched her granddaughter’s arm. “Maybe Lark can help, too?”

“Mom, you’ll be exhausted for your party if you’re up tonight.” Erica frowned. “Dan can take Wes home, and I’ll stay.”

Rachel stared at the circle of concerned faces, her stomach churning. “No one has to stay with me. It’s only a headache. I’ll be fine.”

“Ivy and I can help.” Jade stepped forward. “We’re not babies. We can stay up and make sure Mom is okay.”

Ivy squeezed in next to her. “Why can’t she just sleep all night?”

Ford cleared his throat. “She can, but we need to make sure she doesn’t have any problems.”

“I don’t see why everyone is arguing about it. If Kane’s coming, he can stay with her.”

Relief flowed through Rachel as Ivy’s words sank in. “You know, that’s probably the best solution. I’m sure he won’t mind losing a little sleep.”

“What, now Kane is staying here?” A scowl twisted Lark’s lips. “How convenient.”

“I suppose I could make up the sleeper couch in the den.”

“Please don’t bother, Olivia. I’m sure he’ll have his sleeping bag with him.” Rachel forced a smile. “I wish everyone would quit worrying about me. I’m fine. All I need right now is a shower.”

Ford patted her knee. “Lark will check on you in five minutes. I don’t want you to pass out up there.”

“Make it ten. I have a lot of dirt to wash off.”

Jade touched her mother’s hair. “You do look pretty gross, Mom. There’s dirt on your face and pine needles in your hair.”

“You couldn’t have told me sooner?”

“I would have, but I was more worried about the bruises on your neck.”

Ivy giggled. “Yeah, Mom, we didn’t think dirt was your biggest problem.”

Rachel steadied herself on the arm of the couch as she stood then gave each of her younger daughters a hug. She touched Lark’s arm as she passed. “You’ll make sure I don’t drown in the shower?”

“Better me than Kane.”

Rachel gritted her teeth.

As she headed slowly up the stairs, Erica spoke into the silence. “Sounds like the situation is under control. Let’s go, Dan. It’s long past Wes’s bedtime.”

Ivy’s voice piped up. “Don’t worry, Aunt Erica, we’ll be fine with Grandpa and Kane to protect us.”

“I certainly hope so. Good night, everyone.” Erica’s voice cut off when a door shut.

Exhaustion threatened as Rachel entered her bedroom. After stripping off her filthy clothes, she turned on the shower in the adjoining bathroom and stepped inside the stall. The hot spray eased her stiff muscles. Head hanging, she soaked in the warmth. Five minutes later, she worked up the energy to shampoo her hair.

A tap sounded on the door. “Mom, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Lark. I’ll be finished in a couple of minutes.”

Rachel rinsed her hair and turned off the water. After drying on an oversized towel, she slipped on a pair of warm pajamas and a robe then ran a comb carefully through her hair and brushed her teeth. With a longing glance toward the bed, she went back downstairs.

Olivia and Ford were alone in the living room.

She sat on the couch beside her former father-in-law. “Where’re the girls?”

Olivia clenched her hands in her lap. “I sent them up to bed. They looked tired.”

“Thanks. It’s awfully late.” Rachel ran a hand through her damp hair. “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’m causing you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Ford patted her knee. “It’s hardly your fault. We’re just glad you’re safe.”

“Hopefully the sheriff will catch this person so you won’t need to bother your friend for protection.”

Rachel eyed the tight line of Olivia’s lips. “I’m sorry if having Kane here upsets you, but I don’t want to risk my girls’ safety or yours. I have complete faith in his ability to protect us.”

Ford gave his wife a warning look. “Safety is our main concern, of course, and any friend of yours is more than welcome in our home. Isn’t that right, dear?”

“Yes, of course. Do you know when we can expect him?”

Rachel glanced at the old wooden clock on the fireplace mantle. Ten o’clock. “Soon.”

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Ford got up to answer it and a minute later led Kane into the room. He hurried straight across the hardwood floor to the couch and took Rachel’s hand.

“How are you?”

She forced a smile. “I’ve been better.”

He reached out to touch the dark blemish on her neck. “When I find the guy who put those bruises on your skin, he’ll wish he’d never been born.”

Olivia cleared her throat.

Rachel dragged her gaze away from Kane’s. “Ford and Olivia Carpenter, meet Kane Lafferty.”

He held out his hand, and Ford shook it.

“Please, make yourself at home.” Olivia’s tone was cool. “I’m sorry to greet you and run off, Mr. Lafferty, but I’m more than ready to turn in. I’m afraid we don’t have an unoccupied bedroom to give you, but the couch in the den makes into a bed. Rachel can show you where everything is.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Carpenter, and please call me Kane.”

“Good night then, Kane. Good night, Rachel.”

Ford’s gaze followed his wife’s progress. “I’ll be up in a minute, dear.”

Kane glanced over at the older man. “I hope I’m not imposing.”

“Not in the least. The stress is getting to Olivia, what with the party tomorrow and worrying about Rachel. Now, we need to talk about Rachel’s care. She has a concussion, so she should be watched tonight. She thought you wouldn’t mind helping with that, but if you’re tired, I’ll stop by her room a few times.”

“I can manage it. I don’t need much sleep. What do I need to do?”

“You don’t have to wake her every hour like they used to tell you to do when someone had a concussion. Maybe just a couple of times to make sure she’s alert. If the headache or nausea worsens, let me know immediately.”

Kane nodded. “Not a problem.”

Rachel stood and gave Ford a hug. “Thanks. You went above and beyond the call of duty today.”

“Honey, you know I’d do anything for you. Try to get some rest.” He turned to Kane. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.” As soon as the older man disappeared up the stairs, Kane pulled her into his arms. “You scared ten years off my life when you said you’d been attacked. How are you really?”

“I’m sore all over, and my head is throbbing. I’m so glad you came. I was really scared. Still am.” She leaned against his chest. “Who could have done this?”

“I don’t know, but you can be sure I’ll find him. Let’s wait until tomorrow to hash it out, though. Right now you look dead on your feet.”

“I feel half dead at least. Shall I show you to the den?”

“Nope. I’m coming up with you.”

“Olivia will have a heart attack.”

“I’m not planning a grand seduction. I don’t think you’re quite up to it.” He touched her cheek. “It’ll just be easier to watch you this way.”

“There’s a chaise lounge in my room, but it’s short.”

“I’ll sack out on the floor with a blanket and a pillow. Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

With his arm around her, he led her from the room, pausing to grab the small duffle bag he’d left in the entry. When they reached the top of the stairs, she looked in on Jade and Ivy. Both girls were asleep. A light shone in Lark’s room. Rachel knocked lightly.

“Come in.”

Lark lay propped against her pillows, a book open on her knees. She glanced up when Rachel pushed open the door.

“Good night, honey.”

Her daughter’s gaze went straight to Kane. “You’re here.”

“I’m going to keep an eye on your mom tonight.”

“I’ll bet.” She turned her shoulder. “Good night.”

With a sigh, Rachel shut the door. “If you haven’t guessed, she isn’t thrilled by your presence.”

“Neither is your mother-in-law.”

“She’s upset. Maybe calling you was a mistake.”

Kane tipped her chin up with one finger. “You made the right choice. Your safety comes first.” He indicated the girls’ bedrooms. “
Their
safety comes first.”

She walked into her room then hesitated when Kane shut the door. “You’re right. Still...”

“Nothing is going to happen tonight that wouldn’t have Olivia and Lark’s full approval. I want you to get some sleep while I take a shower.” He grinned. “A cold one.”

Rachel smiled and dropped her robe on the carpet. With a sigh she slipped into bed. The water was still running when she drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

The light from the bathroom spilled across the carpet to caress Rachel’s face. Bruises shadowed her neck, and a little scrape marred her cheek. Kane’s fists clenched. He wanted to punch something—or someone. The bastard who’d put his filthy hands on her. The man who’d put a look of fear into her eyes.

He eased down on the edge of the bed but didn’t touch her. She needed rest, and he had no intention of disturbing her. Watching her was enough, this woman he’d grown to care so much about in one short week. The timing sucked with his career in disarray, her resentful daughter and some nut job on the loose. Falling for Rachel would only complicate an already difficult situation. Too bad he couldn’t control the way his pulse leaped every time he saw her.

Pulling the second pillow off the bed and an afghan from the back of a chair, he settled on the floor next to the bed. He probably wouldn’t sleep, but he could at least rest his eyes…

Three hours later, he gently touched her shoulder. “Rachel, wake up.”

Slowly she opened her eyes.

Kane grunted in satisfaction. “You’re doing great, darlin’. Go back to sleep.” He stroked her hair then lay down on the floor. Thank God she’d exhibited no signs the concussion was worsening. He wouldn’t wake her again, not if her breathing remained even.

When she stirred an hour later, he sat up. “Everything okay?”

She slipped her legs over the side of the bed then switched on the lamp on the nightstand. “Bathroom.”

He nodded and waited until the door opened again. “How’re you feeling?”

“My head still aches but not as bad as before.” The mattress sank as she sat on the edge. “You look exhausted.”

Her hair hung around her face in soft waves. The bruising had darkened, but her eyes were a clear, beautiful green.

“I’ll survive. Obviously you’re fine, so I’ll get a couple hours sleep now.”

“Come here, then.” She held out a hand. “The floor can’t be very comfortable.”

“It’s not bad. The carpet is nice and thick.”

“Well, the bed is better. Come on, Kane. You won’t be any use to me or anyone else if you don’t get some sleep.”

“That’s true.” He stood and snapped off the light then stretched out beside her.

Rachel curled up against him. “Kane?”

“Yes.” Turning on his side, he stroked the hair away from her face.

“Will that man come after me again?”

His hand stilled. He wouldn’t sugarcoat the truth. “More than likely he will. Psychos who are fixated the way this one seems to be usually don’t give up until they’re caught.”

“I’m scared.”

He pulled her tight against him. “It’s okay to be worried. It’ll make you cautious.” He pressed a hand to the soft curve of her breast. “Know in your heart I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll keep you safe. You can count on it.”

She hugged his hand against her. “Thank you.”

His chest tightened with emotion. “Go back to sleep.”

With Rachel in his arms, he finally let his guard down to relax into oblivion.

* * * *

He lay in a sleeping bag in the back of his pickup at the side of a little-used dirt road. Jordan was only a few miles away. So close—and yet so far. She should have been here in his arms. Tonight, she should have belonged to him.

He slammed his hand against the truck bed and cried out, the sound echoing in the silent night. It was near dawn, but he hadn’t slept, hadn’t taken his medication either. Instead, he’d thrown the pills into the bushes before crawling into his lonely bed. He didn’t like the way taking them numbed his senses. He wanted to remember every horrible detail of his encounter with Jordan with crystal clarity.

Jordan screaming and kicking. Jordan calling him those awful names. Jordan struggling to get away. Worse, Jordan lying unconscious at his feet.

“I had to do it.”

Tears ran down his cheeks as he wondered how it had gone so wrong. Should he have revealed himself to her? Would Jordan have come willingly if she’d known who he was? He hadn’t been willing to take the risk.

He closed his eyes and remembered the feel of her in his arms. Even damp with sweat, she’d smelled incredibly sweet. The skin on her neck had been so soft beneath his arm, and his hand had touched her breasts. Just a brush, but enough to make him throb with need. His breath quickened.

“She wanted me.” He moaned. “She wanted me, too.”

His body surged. A wet stickiness flooded across his stomach and thighs, a tribute to his love for Jordan. Memories would have to sustain him until the next time.

There
would
be a next time, a better plan than the last one. Failure wasn’t an option. He would watch every move she made and wait for his chance. Soon, Jordan would be his.

The bed was empty when Rachel woke the next morning. Her head was still tender, but not nearly as painful as it had been. After swallowing a couple of ibuprofen, she dressed in a pair of shorts and a sleeveless blouse. Downstairs the house was strangely silent. A billow of white through the dining room window caught her eye. She stepped outside. A huge white tent had been set up on the back lawn. Most of the family was out there milling around it.