Nauti Intentions (37 page)

man’s love. She was confident in Alex’s commitment to her. She knew he’d stand by his promises no matter what. But she wanted more from

him.

She owned him, she reminded herself, because he had made the conscious decision to belong to her and that she would belong to him.

But she loved him. Loved him until he fil ed parts of her that she hadn’t known actual y existed. Parts of herself that stil ached in lonely pain, not

because they were empty, but because she stil felt that aching void. That lack of not just loving but being loved.

Was she asking for too much? God. She had Alex. He had promised her, and Alex didn’t break promises. He’d given himself to her; did she

have the right to ask for more, especial y in light of the fact that she loved him until she felt as though her heart were breaking with it?

The questions tumbled through her mind, one after the other, always the same, until she felt as though she would lose her mind if she stood there

contemplating them much longer.

Breathing in deeply, she smoothed a final tear from her face, a lone droplet of moisture that lingered on her cheek. She had more than she had ever

thought she would have. For now, for tonight, she was going to have to let the rest of it be, because there were no answers, not yet, and she knew it.

Teach me how to love, Janey.
The words whispered through her mind. Alex’s words. She bit her lip, remembering then just exactly how much he

had pledged to her.

Teach me how to love.

Could he love her? One thing was for sure—until they could both sleep without fear of bombs, it was a question that neither of them was going to be

able to answer.

Until Alex was confident she was safe, he wouldn’t let his mind be distracted from her protection to consider any emotions he might possibly feel for

her. That meant the stalker would have to be identified and caught. She would have to face, eventual y, whoever wanted her dead.

Someone wanted her dead.

Pretty much the story of her life, she decided, as she opened the bathroom door and returned to Alex. Someone wanted to own, control, or take the life

she envisioned for herself.

Just as Dayle had wanted to do.

Her stalker had only taken his place.

TWENTY-TWO

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Three nights later Hoyt col apsed onto the stool behind the register, and Rogue lifted her tired feet to the smal cushioned settee in the waiting room and

rested her head on the cushioned back.

Timothy was sprawled in a chair; his gaze was lively, though, and fil ed with mirth. Natches was cranky but appeared in better spirits after Chaya arrived

with Ray. Maria, Ray’s wife, had helped wait tables for two nights; she was beside him on a long bench, while Desmond and the rest of the staff were

resting wherever they could before heading home.

“I would say it was a very productive four nights.†Timothy rubbed his hands in obvious glee. “I have to say, Janey, this is the best vacation

I’ve ever had.â€

With the staff present, Alex had already warned her that no one should know Timothy was part of DHS or a part of the investigation. Mark and Tyrel

were there, leaning in a back corner, supposedly simply friends Alex had pul ed in to bus tables.

It was almost funny watching the women lust after the hard abs and tight bodies of her new busboys. Unless they were staring at Alex. She’d had

problems with that.

“I’m exhausted.†Janey draped her arms over the reservation counter and laid her head in them. “Oh God. I just want to sleep.â€

“I finished up your paperwork earlier,†Rogue said and yawned. “Real y, Janey, you need to get organized. Once I had it in the proper piles, it

went quickly.â€

“You’re hired,†Janey mumbled into her arms.

Rogue’s laughter was amused, but Janey wasn’t joking. In four days, Rogue had managed to do the impossible. She had organized the

paperwork. Janey lifted her head and stared back at her friend silently.

Rogue rol ed her eyes, then stared around the room. “Who’s giving me a ride back to the bar? Janey sent her monster sheriff after me this

afternoon.â€

“Only because you swore your bike was broke,†Janey accused her.

Rogue flipped her red gold curls and gave her an innocent expression. “Sweets, it’s Saturday night. I was supposed to have fun tonight,

remember?â€

“You did. Three men pinched your butt, one gave you a fifty-dol ar tip, and you managed not to break your legs in those heels.â€

Timothy smiled with rich amusement.

“If you didn’t have fun,†Janey concluded, “I had fun watching you.â€

“God save me,†Natches muttered as Rogue’s laughter tinkled through the waiting room and she stretched her legs before pul ing out her

phone.

“Watch this,†she drawled and made her cal . “Zeke? It’s Rogue.†Her voice became heavy, tired, languorous. “The cabs are al

busy and I’m so tired. Please pick me up.†She waited, and Janey watched as her expression flickered with something not so innocent. “Do I

have to ride in the back?†She waited, then drawled, “Wil you use the handcuffs?â€

Pure wicked laughter fel from her lips as she flipped her phone closed. “He’l be here in ten minutes.â€

“Is he using the handcuffs?†Timothy asked with a little too much curiosity.

Rogue pouted. “He said only if I break the law. As though I want to get caught doing that.†She winked at Timothy before rising to her feet and

moving for the door. “Nite nite, folks.â€

“Are you serious about hiring her?†Hoyt asked as the door closed behind Rogue’s leather-clad form.

“If she’l take the job.†She looked around at the staff stil lingering. “Any objections?â€

“She’s fun.†The waitress Tiffany shrugged as she moved to Rogue’s seat.

“She’s smart,†Desmond stated. “Our new sous-chef arrives Monday; this wil give me time to prepare him for the rush that comes on

Wednesday. His wife is an excel ent waitress as wel . Opening the new banquet room should be no problem.â€

“I don’t think we’re ready for that,†Hoyt argued. “We’re moving too fast, Janey. The banquet room wasn’t even prepared

properly this week. The reputation we’re building is going to suffer.â€

“Ridiculous,†Desmond snapped. “Quality has not suffered, neither in customer care nor in the food. We’ve made certain of this. And the

profits have surely risen dramatical y.†He turned to Janey. “I have run kitchens for years; our output was exceptional as was our quality.â€

“And our profits.†Janey nodded. “We did more business in the last four nights than we’ve done in a month. And I agree with the quality.â€

“We can’t keep it up,†Hoyt argued again, his expression creasing in concern and a hint of anger. “Janey, this restaurant doesn’t just

reflect your name, but your brother’s. You should remember that. When you can’t keep up, the restaurant’s good name wil go to hel as wel .

Just as it did before.â€

Janey stiffened at the reference to Dayle Mackay.

“I’m aware of what can happen if we don’t prepare properly,†she stated cool y. “But I think we’re able to handle the additional

customers. We’l have an added waitress Monday with Desmond’s additional chef. Tiffany’s sister has agreed to waitress until we can find

more staff, and Rogue wil cover for us at least until we can find a general manager, if she doesn’t take the job herself.â€

“We don’t need a general manager; even Natches agrees with that.†Hoyt looked to Natches for support.

“That wasn’t what I said, Hoyt.†Natches frowned. “I said we’re not hiring one if it means Janey wil try to leave.â€

“You’re leaving?†Hoyt’s head jerked around, his gaze narrowed. “You didn’t mention that.â€

“I’m not leaving,†she muttered, wel aware of Alex watching her silently. “If I left, Natches would burn the place down.â€

“I would,†he agreed with a mocking smile. “And we both know how much that would break my heart.â€

His voice was sincere. The look in his eyes wasn’t. He’d love nothing better than to burn the place to the ground, and Janey knew it.

She stared around the waiting room at the curious gazes watching them.

“She’s not going anywhere,†Alex stated before she could speak. “Except home to sleep. I locked up the office; everything’s ready to

go whenever you are.â€

The kitchen was secured, everything prepared. Al they had to do was walk out the front door.

“I stil think this is a mistake,†Hoyt stated as he moved from behind the register. “We’re not ready for this move, and Janey doesn’t

have the experience for the job.â€

Yeah, she’d been hearing that argument out of him for months.

“She has the experience, but does she have the stamina?†Tiffany pushed herself to her feet. “God, I’m exhausted.â€

“She’s got the guts to do it,†Desmond argued, looping his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “She’l do.â€

Janey smiled at his statement. “We have a day off. Let’s see what we can do with our time then to rest and get ready for next week. Before

opening we’l meet for any further ideas or objections.â€

“Why? You don’t listen to them.†Hoyt pouted.

“She listens when you agree with her,†Natches snorted. “That should be close enough.â€

“You always disagree with me,†she told him as Alex helped her with her leather jacket.

“And you never listen.†Natches glared at her as Chaya gave a low, amused laugh.

“Poor baby,†his wife murmured. “Come home, darling. I’l listen to you al night long if you want me to.â€

“Real y?†Natches’s expression perked up. “Interesting.â€

Laughter echoed around Janey as everyone filed outside and she and Alex set the alarms and locked the doors. Janey touched the glass of the door

and stared into the darkened restaurant then.

Alex’s heart clenched at the wistfulness in her expression. She had dreams. He heard them in her voice, saw them in her eyes. Dreams of a future

here, dreams with him. He knew she had those dreams because he saw them in her eyes when she turned and laid that smal hand on his arm.

Leading her to the truck, Alex could feel the fine hairs at the back of his neck lifting in warning, though. He’d felt it for the last two nights, the

malevolent gaze focused on Janey, the threat of violence swirling in the air around her.

They were playing a waiting game.

He could feel Mark and Tyrel backing them as Alex kept her close to his side, sheltered by his body, the vehicles and the shadows around them.

What would he do if he lost her? He hadn’t been lying to her when he told her he would cease to exist. When he’d been wounded, he’d

come home with one thought in mind. Janey. Touching her, having her, relieving the unrelenting hunger he’d had for her for far too long. He hadn’t

returned with the best of intentions. Because seducing her had been his plan, not finding himself bound to her by emotions he couldn’t explain, justify,

or make sense of.

As they neared the truck, Mark and Tyrel moved ahead of them as Timothy eased in behind Janey. The older man was softer around Janey. Hel , that

whole daughter thing. He’d worked in that restaurant like a pro the past few days. And if Alex wasn’t mistaken, he had enjoyed it.

“Clear,†Mark murmured after he and Tyrel checked the vehicle for explosive devices.

“This is ridiculous,†Janey muttered. “Al of you putting your lives on the line like this, Alex.â€

She was frightened. She hid her fear wel until they left the restaurant each night, but until they were safely behind the locked doors of his house, she

trembled with the terror of someone being hurt because of her. The fear wasn’t as much for herself as for others.

“It’s our job.†Timothy beat him to a response. “And trust me, every time we win, every child, husband, daughter, or sister we save makes

it al worth it.â€

“And I don’t let anyone take what’s mine,†Alex told her softly as he lifted her into the truck and watched her slide to the middle of the

seat.

She sat beside him; she never slid to the other seat anymore. He liked that. Liked the way he could curl his hand around her leg, above her knee, and

touch her warm skin as he drove. He liked having her close to him, feeling her, knowing she was safe.

As they drove away from the restaurant, he felt the tightness in his neck increasing. The closer they got to the house, the more he could feel the danger

approaching. Once they got in the house, it would ease. Whoever her stalker was, he hadn’t figured a way past Alex’s security yet.

It was impossible to toss a handmade bomb past the wrought iron that blocked the windows. His bedroom had steel shutters on the inside that further

protected the room. Those had been instal ed immediately after he’d brought Janey home.

Dark blinds and heavy curtains further shielded the other rooms. Windows and doors were secured, and outside, Mark and Tyrel took turns sleeping in

their truck and watching the house.

The waiting game was ending, though. Alex could feel it.

“Something’s wrong,†Janey whispered. “I can feel it.â€

She was staring out the truck window, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, as they turned onto a side street and headed to the house.

Alex never took the same route, never al owed anyone to know which way they were going.

“We’re okay,†he promised her.

He checked the rearview mirror. Mark and Tyrel were right behind them; there were no other vehicles fol owing, and none in front of them.