Mariana hastened to stop the oncoming disaster. “Sheriff, I have a stalker, as you know. I’m sure this bombing was an attack by him. Have you contacted the Dallas police force?”
“I have, and they’re sending copies of the casefile tomorrow,” the sheriff said. “However, since this bombing was against Mr. Maxwell, we really need to look at any enemies he no doubt has.”
“Nope. Everyone loves me,” Raine said, extending his arm along the back of the sofa and resting his hand on Mariana’s shoulder in a move that spoke volumes. His fingers tapped against her neck as if he had every right to do so while his expression remained casual and rather amused.
Both the sheriff and his son looked pointedly at the hand on her shoulder.
She wanted to tell them all to get lost, but at the moment, she’d take Raine’s support over either of theirs. Especially since she didn’t understand this illness of his. Would it attack suddenly? Were there actual attacks? She should’ve asked more questions the night before, but he was so good at deflecting. Was he embarrassed to be ill? He sure didn’t look embarrassed.
“Well?” Johnny asked.
Crap. She hadn’t been listening. “Well what?” she asked.
The sheriff frowned. “I offered to take you into protective custody. Just you and right now.”
“She’s staying here,” Raine said quietly. “I can protect her.”
“Obviously not,” Johnny sneered.
Raine smiled, and the sight was nowhere near pleasant. “Trust me. She’s a lot safer with me than you two boobs.”
And he just called the lawmen boobs? Mariana had the insane urge to laugh, so she cleared her throat. The only thing she knew about Molotov cocktails was from watching television, but obviously they caused a big fire. What if the person had thrown the bomb inside her house? Maybe she should get out of town, but this guy had found her once, and no doubt he’d do it again.
She did feel safer with Raine at her house. “Nobody knows Raine is here, so this has to be about me. The guy sent more roses today, so he knows where I live and obviously is watching the house.” The idea made her want to puke.
The sheriff leaned toward her. “I can take you somewhere safe.”
“So can I,” Raine said. “She’s safe with me, Sheriff. Why don’t you go find her stalker?”
The sheriff stared intently. “Where were you when the bomb went off, Mariana?”
“I was sleeping in my bedroom.” She chewed on her bottom lip and shivered.
“And you?” The sheriff turned to Raine.
Raine pulled her closer against his side. “I was sleeping in the guest room.”
The sheriff looked from one to the other of them. “So it’s possible you created this entire situation and Mariana would have no clue. Right?”
“I did not bomb my own truck,” Raine spoke slowly.
“Why don’t I believe you?” The sheriff shook his head. “Mariana, please trust me. Get away from this man.”
She only had a second to go with her gut, and she shook her head. “I’m fine. He isn’t the stalker.” God, she hoped her instincts were on track this time.
What if she was wrong?
Chapter 8
The anger rushing through Raine’s veins actually burned. This stalker, whoever he was, had dared to bomb the truck with Mariana very close inside the house. Oh, Raine had planned to find the guy, teach him a lesson, and then turn him over to the law. Now he just wanted to cut off the bastard’s head.
“I’m sorry about your truck,” Mariana murmured, handing him a glass of wine and retaking her seat on the sofa. Now that the sheriff and his imbecile of a son had gone, the atmosphere in the room no longer was filled with tension.
“I don’t care about the truck.” Raine accepted the drink and downed it in two swallows. Heat splashed through his stomach and down his throat.
She curled one leg beneath her and turned to face him. “I might’ve put you in danger.”
His fingers tingled with the need to sit her on his lap and comfort her. “I’m not worried about danger.” The more time he spent with her, the stronger this pull became between them. The branding mark on his palm seared through his skin to bone with insistence. He should’ve heard or sensed the bomber, even though he’d been asleep. The illness was slowly taking away his abilities, even with Mariana just in the next room. He had to find this guy before he started losing his strength. Mariana could never see him like that.
