“I would love to. I just know you both recently lost your father. Family is very important. When my parents were killed, my relationship with my brothers was instrumental in helping me heal emotionally.”
“Thanks, but it’s not the same for us.” He glanced in the direction Nate had gone.
“Speaking of brothers, what made you invite Jason?” she asked.
He looked down at his coffee. “When we were in the tree house yesterday, your story about your family and that Jonah guy made it occur to me that Jason might not be safe at Monty’s. We have much better security here.” He took a sip of his coffee, sizing up her reaction before adding, “I want you to stay with me, Laina. I thought it would be easier for you if Jason was here too. He can stay as long as he wants. Silas is welcome as well. I would have sent for him too, if you’d said where to find him. Where is he staying?”
Laina frowned. She was sure Kyle was trying to be helpful, but sending for Jason without talking to her first crossed the line. She ignored his question about Silas and jumped to the point of the matter. “But you know Jason will have to go back. We both will. I can’t stay here permanently.”
“Why not? If I haven’t made it obvious, as far as I’m concerned, you never have to leave.” His face lit up with hope.
“There’s something we have to do next weekend, family business. But even if we come back after that, once this is all sorted out, I’ll go home to New Hampshire. I have a business, a life. I can’t stay forever.” She hadn’t wanted to do it this way, not now, but Nate had made her realize the effect she was having on Kyle. She had to be honest with him. Leading him on would only make the inevitable worse.
He scratched the back of his head and stared at her. “I’m sure we can figure something out. You’re important to me. I don’t want this to end.”
Laina walked faster.
“Will you go with me Friday night? To the Tanaka dinner at Nate’s?”
She looked at him, jaw going slack. “I can’t. Who would watch Milo?”
“No one needs to watch Milo. He hasn’t chewed anything in over a week. One of the models can give him his evening walk. I’ll ask Nate who he was expecting to use as my date. If she was free to spend the evening with me, she should be free to walk Milo.”
Laina laughed. “I’m sure that won’t burn.”
“Please. I can’t go with someone else. Not now. It wouldn’t feel right.”
She sighed. “This thing between us, Kyle, I want it to work, but…”
He shook his head. “You can’t deny we have a connection. I’ve never felt anything like this. No way am I quitting because of geography.”
“I don’t want to quit. We do have a connection,” she said.
“Then what is it?”
“He said it was dangerous,” she murmured, thinking of Nate.
“Who said it was dangerous?”
“Your brother,” she said, choosing to share what truth she could. “He implied I was distracting you and said it would be dangerous for me to become involved with you.”
“That asshole!”
“He would have probably preferred I keep that to myself.”
“Forget about Nate. He’s a dick.”
“But maybe he’s right, Kyle. Maybe I’m not what you need. I don’t fit here.”
Silence wedged between them, their feet crunching rhythmically on the stones. They turned the corner of the drive that led to the gatehouse. Kyle slowed his steps. The picketers from Eternal Light Ministries were back, lined up on the other side of the gate. At least fifteen signs waved in the air.God hates fornicators. Porn dooms America. Repent and be saved!
“Don’t they ever leave?” Laina shook her head.
“Never.” He grabbed her elbow and tugged her back up the drive. “I should have known better than to come this way. Come on.”
Laina wasn’t sure she’d have noticed the man if she weren’t a wolf; they were still far enough away that he’d be a blur to human eyes. Dark blond hair, a baseball cap, and a hand that reached behind his back and pulled a pistol from his waistband.
“Get down!” she yelled, releasing Milo. She shoved Kyle off the path and into the grass. The pop of the gun discharging reached her ears moments before the bullet drove into her shoulder, knocking her off her feet.
