“That’s good. I’m sure your security guard knows about the shooting by now.”
“They’re very efficient.”
“That’s right, and that’s a good thing. If the guy who shot at us is The Preacher, he could be after any of us.”
“Oh, God, I hate this.”
“Me too.”
“At least you have Ethan. Is Dirk there, too?”
“Dirk took his Harley and went out of town for a couple of days. He was hurting, Meg. He didn’t want to lose you.”
“I didn’t want to lose him, either, but . . . I just . . . I did what I had to.” There was no way to miss the tears that sprang into Meg’s voice.
“I know you did. I’m not ready to give up Ethan. I probably should. I don’t know if it can work. I don’t know if I can handle his job. All the violence . . . I’m getting to see it firsthand.” She sighed. “Maybe I don’t need to worry about it. I really have no idea what Ethan feels for me. He cares about me, yes. But maybe that’s just his protective instincts kicking in.”
“Maybe. Or maybe he’s in love with you.”
Her stomach clenched. Was it possible? Because it was becoming very clear that she was in love with him. But even if they loved each other, that didn’t mean it would work.
“Does Dirk know about the shooting?” Meg asked.
“Ethan called and told him. As I said, he’s out of town. Ethan’s brother, Luke, says he’ll back Ethan up. I have a feeling Luke’s a very capable man.”
“If he’s anything like Ethan and Dirk, I’m sure he is.”
“As I said, the guy out front probably knows about the shooting, but you might want to make certain.”
“I can see him out the window. I’ll call him.”
“Listen, I’ve got to go. Take this number down. We aren’t using our own phones. We don’t want the people after us using GPS to track us.”
“You don’t want the people after you . . . oh my God! This is all so scary. I can’t help wishing Dirk were here.”
“If you called him—”
“No way. I’m not doing that.”
“All right, I get it.”
“Let me find a pen.” Meg returned and wrote down the number of the throwaway phone. “Call if you need anything—and I mean anything. Okay?”
“Same here.”
“In the meantime, you both stay safe.”
“Thanks, Meg. You, too.” Val disconnected the call and headed back to the living room.
Two days passed. Early morning rain pounded on the roof and a gust of wind rattled the window, rousing Ethan from a deep, erotic dream. In the dream, Val had awakened him with soft kisses that traveled from his chest to his navel, then went lower. He could almost feel the silk of her hair brushing his skin as she worked over him.
His morning erection stirred. Something hot and wet licked over his hardened length. Ethan groaned and his eyes cracked open. Not a dream. Better than any dream he’d ever had. His hand slid into Val’s heavy blond hair as she took him into her mouth, laved and teased, and pleasure tore through him.
Jesus God, she was amazing. He clamped down on his control and let her play for a while, enjoying the hot sensations spearing through his body. Then, careful of her arm, he lifted her up and settled her astride him.
“You want to take charge. Go ahead.”
She grinned devilishly, displaying her dimples, then rose up and took him deep, began moving sweetly and driving him insane. Ethan cupped her breasts as she tilted forward, her soft blond curls swinging down, cocooning them both as she rocked back and forth and started to come.
