“Knox Winston has been involved in criminal activities for years. No one has ever been able to get the kind of evidence that would stand up in court. The DEA saw our relationship as an opportunity to bring your father to justice.” He reached out and gently caught her chin. Harper turned away.
“Aiding law enforcement is what I do for a living, Harper. It doesn’t matter who the bad guys are. The DEA asked for my help. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I felt I had no choice.”
She slowly rose from the sofa, exhaustion written all over her face. “I’m tired, Chase. I’m going home. Thanks for being honest.”
“Do you have any idea who the guy who followed you is?”
She shook her head. “No. You don’t think it could be DEA, some kind of federal agent?”
“In a rental car? Not likely. But I’ll find out. In the meantime, you aren’t safe by yourself, Harper. Your brother was kidnapped just a few weeks ago. We still aren’t sure why. Which means you could be a target, too.”
She trembled. “Do you really think so?”
“I think it’s entirely possible. Until we know what’s going on, you’re going to need some kind of protection. I’m not leaving you alone, angel. I know you think the worst of me, but if you’re honest with yourself, you know I’ll protect you.” With his life, if it came to that.
Her chin went up. “If you really think I need protection, I’ll hire Brandon. He’s a bodyguard. And I trust him.”
Unlike youwere the unspoken words.
“You can hire Bran if you want. You’re still going to have to deal with me. I’m not letting you out of my sight, honey. Not until this thing is resolved one way or another.”
“You can’t do that! You can’t just waltz back into my life and bully me into doing whatever you want!”
Amusement touched his lips. Damn, she was amazing. “Call it what you want, sweetheart. I’m coming home with you. Or you’re coming home with me. What’s it going to be?”
“Why? Why is it so important to you?”
Why?Because he couldn’t stand the thought of something happening to her. Because he had finally realized how important she was to him.
“I’ll tell you why. Because I made a mistake. I let you go when I should have fought for you. I’m not making the same mistake again. Now, let’s go.”
She stared at him as if snakes were growing out of his head, as if she couldn’t believe what he had just said. He could hardly believe it himself. Then she picked up her purse, turned and started for the door.
Figuring she would be more at ease in her own place, Chase followed her to her car, then waited while she settled behind the wheel.
“I’ll be right behind you,” he said. “I’m driving my pickup.”
Harper made no reply, just cranked the engine on the Beemer as he climbed into his truck. He relaxed a little when she braked at the edge of the lot, her taillights going on as she waited for him to pull up behind her. She drove into the street and he followed. Reaching over, he opened the glove box and took out his Glock, clipped the holster onto his belt.
From now on until this was over, he would be armed. No matter what happened, he’d make sure Harper was safe.
Chapter Thirty
Harper couldn’t believe it. Chase Garrett was not only back in her life, he was spending the night in her guest room.
I made a mistake, he had said.I let you go when I should have fought for you.
The words made no sense. Chase had betrayed her. Used her to get to her father. He had aided the men who wanted to put Knox Winston in prison. She would never be able to trust him again. Surely he knew that.
She heard the water running in the bathroom at the end of the upstairs hall. She didn’t want to think of Chase in the shower. She didn’t want to remember that steel-hard body, the wide shoulders and washboard abs, the feel of him pressing her down in the mattress, driving her to the most incredible climax she’d ever known.
The shower went off. She had almost escaped to her bedroom when the bathroom door opened and Chase stood in the opening, a towel wrapped around his slim hips.
Her stomach clenched as Chase walked toward her, droplets of water clinging to the light dusting of dark gold hair on his chest. Muscle rippled across his flat belly. His biceps bulged as he towel-dried his hair.
Harper bit back a moan. Watching him approach, she began to feel light-headed. Who knew sexual desire could actually make a person dizzy?
Chase stopped right in front of her. “Everything’s locked up tight. Even if somebody is dumb enough to try to break in, you don’t have to worry. I’m a very light sleeper.”
