“Dillon has been married twice. Hana, his first wife, was killed during a home invasion. He wanted to get Ella, his second wife, a ring that was hers.”
“Oh.”
“Hana was lovely. You would’ve liked her. Everyone did. She was a practical woman, and she’d be pleased someone is using her ring.”
“If your brother is certain.”
“He suggested I borrow the ring. I’ll give it to you tomorrow before you go to work. What time do you start?”
“I arrive at the office by eight at the latest. Sometimes much earlier. I’ll go through the mail and correspondence before heading out on the campaign trail. The poll results hit tomorrow. What will you do?”
“I’ll be trailing you. Don’t worry. I’ll keep to the background and won’t get in your way, but I’ll be close enough if you require help.”
“But what will I tell everyone? About why you’re there, I mean.”
“Tell them I’m your fiancé, and I’m helping you with the campaign. You have volunteers, right?”
“Yes.”
“That will be my position, except I won’t be leaving your side. Do you have a crazy file? You know, a bunch of letters or correspondence that’s strange or unusual?”
“My assistant Robert might.”
“We’ll check with Robert tomorrow. I’ll organize upgraded security here at the house, and I’ll double-check the security at your office. I’ll check on the names of the men you’ve given me. Do a background on them as much as I can. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Can you sleep now?”
“This pillow isn’t the same as mine.”
Josh grinned because she sounded young and cranky instead of the mature politician image she usually projected. “You can swap pillows with me, or you can sleep in your own bed. It’s big. I promise to keep to my side.”
She stared before giving a decisive nod. “All right. I sleep better in my bed.”
Josh stood and waited for her to get out of bed. The T-shirt fell to mid-thigh but not before he got a great view of the legs the reporters had nicknamed her for.
“Want the rest of your tea?”
“No, it’s cold now. I’ll get the cup in the morning.” She led the way to the master bedroom and climbed into the king-size bed. After plumping a pillow, she lay back with a contented sigh and closed her eyes. “Can you get the light please?”
Josh gave a quiet huff as he obeyed her. The darkness in the bedroom held a different ambiance when Ashley was here, and he fancied he could smell flowers that hadn’t been there earlier. Already, her breathing sounded soft and even as if she’d dropped off to sleep. Not the scenario that usually occurred when he shared a bed with a woman.
He climbed under the covers and lay in the dark, assessing everything she’d told him and making mental notes on what to do first. Email Frog and ask if he’d thought of anyone else who might mean his sister harm. Maybe he could shed light on this because stalkers rarely fixated on someone without reason.
Josh must’ve drifted off to sleep. When he woke, it was with warmth at his back and a feminine arm curved around his waist. He moved a fraction, and Ashley grumbled. Desire shot through him along with her floral scent. His cock lengthened since this was the closest he’d been to an unrelated female in months.
It wouldn’t take much to turn in her arms and kiss her in the way he’d wanted to from the first moment he’d seen her pale, terrified face. He shoved away the temptation. Not the time nor the place. He couldn’t take action or grab the kiss he craved, not when she trusted him to protect her.
* * * * *
The cops had come and gone while he’d watched from a safe distance. He had practice at hiding in plain sight, and the police never looked twice at him.
One problem, though.
The guy.
He had no idea who he was, but the man acted chummy with Awful Ashley.
Bet she’d lied to him, kept her dirty little secrets.
She thought she was safe.Wrong.No one was secure in their little square homes, and he’d prove that soon.
