“Lucky me,” she said, giving him one of her dazzling smiles that threatened to drive every thought except wrapping his arms around her straight from his mind. He quickly busied himself with the fire, and once it was crackling heartily, he pulled out his cell and fired off a quick message. James, the local mechanic, owed him a favor, but even if he hadn’t, he was a good guy who’d never leave someone stranded if he could help it. He hit send, and got a reply almost immediately.
“Good news,” he said, tucking his cell away. “James will be over in about an hour. I can run you back into town if you’re in a hurry, but… Well, I hope you don’t mind me saying, you look a little shaken.”
“I should be used to it,” she said, a little v forming in her forehead as she dodged his eye and warmed her hands in front of the fire. She sucked in a deep breath, then turned and gave him a smile that seemed much more forced than the last. “I’ve been threatened before, but no-one’s ever actually tried to hurt me. To…kill me.”
He gave into the urge then, crossing to her and gently rubbing her upper arms before wrapping his arms around her.
“You’re safe now,” he murmured. She leaned her head against his chest and he breathed her in, enveloping her and vowing right then that he would do whatever it took to catch the person who had done this, so that they could never threaten his mate again. Hewouldprotect his mate, whatever it took.
After a moment she cleared her throat and pulled back, and he dropped his arms, letting her go.
“Sorry,” she said, her cheeks coloring. “It’s silly of me, it’s just…” She trailed off and shivered.
“Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for. And it’s not silly to be shaken up after something like that happens. But…” He wondered if it was smart to push—after all, she had no way of knowing they were mates, and to her he was just a stranger. But he had to know. “Do you have any idea who would want to do something like this?”
She sighed, and sank back down onto the couch. He sat on the other side; far enough away not to crowd her, close enough to protect her if whoever had done this tried anything else.
Alice ran a hand through her hair, glancing at Grant hesitantly. “I guess I should explain. A few months ago, I started investigating reports that a businessman named Victor Riggs was illegally dumping toxic waste near protected wetlands outside the city. He'd been getting away with it for years.”
She shook her head, anger flashing in her eyes. “The damage he's caused is horrific. But of course he has an army of lawyers keeping him protected. I organized protests, circulated petitions...did everything I could to raise awareness and get authorities to actually do something.”
Grant watched her intently as she spoke, captivated by the passion in her voice. He could picture her standing up to the man, refusing to back down.
“Victor fought dirty, though,” Alice continued. “My car tires kept getting slashed, threats were made against me...I even had my apartment broken into. The police could never link anything back to Victor, he was too smart for that. He might even have paid someone in the department off. Either way, there was never any proof he was involved.”
“So you came here to get away from him?” Grant ventured.
“What kind of damsel in distress do you take me for?” she said, a smile teasing one corner of her mouth.
Grant snorted in amusement. “Right. Of course you didn’t run away. So, what happened?”
“I couldn’t prove he was behind the threats, but I did eventually manage to video his men dumping the waste, and I got one to admit Riggs was the one who’d given the order. The recordings were enough for the environmental agency to investigate. They couldn’t prove he’d given the order—it was his word against his man’s—but they had enough to shut the company down and hit him with a massive fine.”
“You’re incredible.”
She blushed, and then looked down at her hands. After a moment she sighed deeply, looking small and defeated. Grant ached to pull her into his arms again but restrained himself.
“I guess he decided to get some revenge.” Her voice was bitter. “I should have known he’d find a way.”
“That man is a monster,” Grant said, anger pulsing through him on Alice's behalf. “He deserves to pay for what he's done. For what he tried to do to you.”
Alice gave him a small, grateful smile then, seeming to relax a little. “I really appreciate you helping me out with this. Most people get scared off when they realize what a target I've made myself.”
“Not a chance,” Grant said firmly. “No way am I letting you deal with this alone.”
He knew then more surely than ever that he would protect Alice at any cost. She was incredible—so strong, yet vulnerable. Funny and fierce. Passionate. Perfect.
His mate.
Alice held his gaze for a long moment before looking down with a hint of color deepening in her cheeks.
He was honored she had trusted him enough to share what she was facing. And he vowed once more to keep her safe, no matter what it took.
“So, how about that cocoa I promised?”
Chapter Five
Alice
