“One of the men from the estate.”He sighed.“I think they took the real estate agent’s phone, found your number, and called hoping you’d pick up.”
“Why?They didn’t even say anything.”
“They didn’t need to.They were confirming that you were alive.If you didn’t pick up, they might’ve assumed you were hit by one of their shots or wiped away in the landslide.That’s why I fucked up and doing so has put a target on your back.They’ll see you as a loose end that needs to be taken care of, and you’ll need increased security until we can eliminate the threat.”
“Beyond staying with Jess and Ash?”A tingle of fear swept through her.She’d worked hard to build her business and a life where she had independence.Ash was her twin, her best friend, and although he was currently employed, she wanted to ensure they both had what they needed in the future.It was hard to believe that choosing to work on one home inspection now threatened everything she’d built.
“Yeah, babe, beyond staying with Jess and Ash,” he said gruffly.
Hearing the endearment come from Jude’s lips sent a thrill spiraling through her.“Do you think they’re in danger, too?”
“Is there anything linking your brother to the business?”
She paused, thinking through Jude’s question.“No, but we have lived together for a long time and receive mail to the same P.O.box.”
Jude glanced down at his hands, then back to her.“I was touched with how they welcomed me last night.I wouldn’t want to take any chances with their safety.For now, we can put a security detail on the condo complex.If they sense anything is off, even slightly, I’ll have them moved, along with Jess’s parents, to a secure location.I’m telling you this now so you can prepare Ash.You’re going to need to cancel your inspections for the coming week.I don’t see any way around that.”
She drew up her knees and locked her arms around them, desperately wanting to feel secure when everything seemed to be crumbling around her.“So, I can stay here, too?”
“You’re the one they’ll be looking for.”
“Me being here will put Ash and Jess in danger.”She glanced down at her hands, then back to Jude.She hated the guilt burning in his gaze.
“Yes,” he said and raked his hand through his short hair.Now wasn’t the time to be thinking of how beautiful the dark strands contrasted with his light grayish-blue eyes.“You’ll stay with me.”
“With you?”She couldn’t mask the surprise in her voice if she tried.
“I have an apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.It has full-time security.You’ll be safe there while we determine the threat and shut down whatever operation is going on.”
She stared at him for a moment, then nodded her head in agreement.“Okay.”
“That’s it?Just, okay?”
“You’re the law-enforcement expert.I trust you and I know how much you covet your own space.I’m grateful that you’re letting me stay with you, even if I do feel like a burden.”
“I don’t want your gratitude.I also don’t want you to feel like you’re a burden.I was…harsh yesterday.Hoping to make you feel like I was only protecting you because I needed you safe for your testimony.That was bullshit.I have the recording, which is pure gold, and while it would make a stronger case for you to identify the men and their voices, I don’t need you for that.”She stared up at him, waiting for him to continue.“But I do need you safe.”
“Why?”she asked.
He reached out and cradled the side of her face.His rough hands were just as gentle as she remembered.“For me.”Silence ballooned in the space around them, and he rubbed his thumb over her cheek.Butterflies flapped in her belly.He was leaning so close, she could smell the lingering soap on his skin.His pulse jumped at the base of his neck, and she wanted nothing more than to cover it with her lips and suck the sensitive skin to leave her mark on him.“I don’t know what it is about you,” he murmured, leaning in closer.His eyes dropped to her lips, and when he brought his gaze back to hers, his pupils were blown out, the endless black depths eclipsing the mist of his irises.He moved his hand from her cheek to the back of her neck.“I have nothing to offer you, but I can’t seem to stop wanting this.”
She framed his face, taking him with her as she leaned back, letting the couch swallow her up.A groan slid from his mouth the moment their lips touched.She slid her tongue against his, moving her hands to grip his shirt, afraid he might change his mind and disappear.She explored his mouth, nipping his bottom lip and memorized the way he tasted.Dark, masculine, and something else that was all his own.He gave her more of his weight, so the hard lines of his body were pressed into her.The sound of the key sliding in the lock had them jumping apart.She sat up quickly, smoothing her shirt, as Ash and Jess entered, hand in hand.
Chapter Twelve
Another hour passedbefore Ivy was ready to leave her brother and his girlfriend.He never should have kissed her.Should’ve kept things completely professional, but damned if he could.Something about having her lips against his made him forget all the darkness that seemed to shroud him.When her body was plastered to his, he forgot, at least momentarily, all the doubts and fears that constantly plagued him.Then there was the way she clung to him.Pulling him in as deeply as she could, like she was savoring every moment, every touch, every breath.He didn’t want to want this woman, but somewhere in the past few hours he’d recognized he didn’t have a choice.From the moment he had lifted her drenched form off the forest floor and held her to his chest, she’d gotten under his skin.
He hoped like hell the trust she placed in him wasn’t a mistake.He always liked to have a plan.To know the action he was going to take and all of the possible outcomes.With Ivy, though, he had no idea where this was going but seemed powerless to stay away from her.When he’d walked into the kitchen to see the real estate agent’s body on the floor, he had to shut his eyes tightly and shake away the image of Ivy with a knife protruding from her throat.That’s how he knew it wouldn’t matter if he stepped away now or later.He already cared.There was no amount of space he could put between them that would be far enough to release the feelings that had already developed.Feelings that had materialized rapidly but were real all the same.If something happened to her, he didn’t think he could live with himself.He wanted to take this risk.The risk of trying to open his heart, and he wanted to take it with her.
“Bring these, too.”Jess jogged into the room holding a stack of clothes and passed them to Ivy.
“Thank you so much.I promise I’ll return them.”
Jess waved away her words then leaned in to kiss Ivy on the cheek.Then, Jess turned to him and threw her arms around his waist just like she’d done the first time they’d met.The feeling of belonging, of family, burned into him nearly as quickly as Ivy had branded herself on his soul.He recognized his actions had the potential to be catastrophic.Ivy deserved better than a man who spent his day surrounded by violence.Who hadn’t allowed himself to feel anything but anguish and guilt for years.Ivy gave her brother a hug and then placed her small hand into his much larger one.When he laced his fingers with hers, something clicked and shifted.This was where she was supposed to be, right by his side.
They said their goodbyes and slipped out into the hallway, taking the staircase to the back of the building.
“Where are we going?”Ivy asked, her honeyed eyes searching his face.
