Reckonings. Cynthia Eden

lips thinned. “And I am... I’m sorry that I didn’t give chase right then, but I didn’t want to leave you. I didn’t know if anyone else might still be lurking around, and I didn’t want to take a chance, not when I didn’t realize what was happening.”

      Her breath felt cold in her lungs.

      “Why don’t you tell me what’s happening? Because I know you’re spooked.”

      “My house was broken into... Anyone would be spooked from that.”

      He waited.

      “Good night,” she said again.

      He sighed. Then he snapped his fingers together. “Jinx.” His voice was low, commanding, and her dog instantly bounded to his feet.

      She frowned at the dog. He usually only listened to her. Half the time.

      “I’ll put your dog in my truck. You get an overnight bag.”

       Wait, what?

      “You’re scared, so the way I see it...there are two choices. I can stay here with you...or you can come back to the ranch with me.”

      She didn’t want to be in her house. It was odd because she loved the place, but...everywhere she looked, Jamie saw a threat. Too isolated. She’d enjoyed the privacy before, but now she thought...he can watch me from anyplace.

      “The ranch is huge—you’ll have plenty of privacy, and if you come back with me, I’ll actually be able to sleep tonight. I won’t stay up, worrying about you every second.”

      His words had her lips curving. “I don’t think you’d worry that much.”

      His gaze was on her mouth, and his eyes seemed to be heating. “Yes...I would.”

      Tension was between them. Heavy. A bit hot.

      “Come home with me,” Davis said.

      And...she nodded.

      * * *

      HE’D NEVER ASKED a woman to spend the night at the ranch. The ranch was home, it was family. His twin brother, Brodie, lived there with his wife, Jennifer, and Davis had actually been thinking it was time he found a new place...so he could give those two privacy. Before Jennifer had rolled back into Brodie’s life, it had just been Davis and his twin out at the ranch. The rest of their family had stayed away because the place held too many painful memories.

      Ava, in particular, had hated the ranch. When she’d looked at the place, he knew she didn’t see the good times. She just saw blood and death.

       But that’s changing. We’re making new memories now. Seeing good...and not just the bad.

      “Looks like the party finally ended,” Jamie said as she stood by her car. She’d followed him back to his home. He’d offered to just drive her, but Jamie had been adamant that she’d wanted her own transportation. “All of the cars are gone.”

      They’d talked to the cops for a while at her place. Not that those uniforms had been much help. They hadn’t even wanted to put out an APB for the motorcycle. So, while the cops had asked aimless questions again and again, the perp had gotten away.

       And he’d better not come back.

      “It’s after midnight now,” Davis said as he glanced around. “I guess the party had to end sometime.” Though he still had trouble believing that his baby sister was actually married. Sweet Ava, all grown up.

      “I guess it did.” She opened her car’s back door, and Jinx bounded out to stand at her side. Before she could grab her bag, Davis leaned in and took it. When he pulled back, Jamie’s gaze was on him. “How am I supposed to thank you for this?”

      Oh, I can come up with some ways. But he was playing the gentleman, so he bit those words back. He didn’t want to make Jamie any more nervous than she already was. And coming on to her too strong, well...

      After that kiss, she already knows how much I want her. He’d nearly jumped her right beneath that tree, with all the wedding guests just yards away. Davis had thought about kissing Jamie plenty of times. He’d wondered how she’d taste. He’d never thought his lips would touch hers and his control would incinerate.

      It had.

      A one-time fluke...or a sign of an addiction to come?

      He carried her bag toward the guesthouse. “The place is plenty pet friendly, so Jinx can go inside and get settled for the night.” Since the guesthouse was privately positioned away from the main ranch, he’d thought she might feel more comfortable there. The ranch had top-of-the-line security, so Jamie would be safe for the night. He unlocked the door for her and turned off the alarm. He motioned for her to enter, but Jamie hesitated. Jinx didn’t. The dog hurried inside and then—flopped near the door.

      “I, um, thank you.” She pushed back the hair that had fallen over her cheek. “It’s really nice of you to let me stay like this. I mean, you barely know me and—”

      “I know plenty about you.”

      Her breath caught. She searched his eyes, then her shoulders slumped a bit. “Ah, you think you do.” And she crossed the threshold and entered the guesthouse. “We always think we know someone, but it’s all surface. All what we want someone else to see.”

      Before she’d left her house, Jamie had changed into a pair of jeans and a loose shirt. He couldn’t help but notice how well those jeans hugged her curves.

      Eyes up. Clearing his throat, he focused on her face once more. She was watching him, her head tilted to the side.

      “What’s beneath your surface?” Davis asked her, truly curious now. Why did Jamie seem to hold herself back from so many people? He knew there had been plenty of guys who were interested in the doc, only she hadn’t been interested in them. He’d actually thought she’d shoot him down, too, but then she’d kissed him so wildly, so recklessly beneath the branches of that tree.

      “You don’t want to know.” Jamie exhaled on a faint sigh. “Thank you, again.”

      Ah, so she was trying to kick him out. Right. He gave her a little salute and backed up. “If you should get scared, just press one on the alarm panel. I can be here in a moment.”

      Jamie nodded. “I’ll remember that.”

      He hesitated. “Are we going to talk about it?”

      Her cheeks flushed. “You mean—”

      “The kiss that left me aching for you.”

      That light flush became even darker. She was so cute when she blushed.

      “If that alarm call hadn’t come through, what do you think would have happened next?” Davis asked, curious. He knew what he’d wanted to happen but...

      “I would have told you good-night. The same way I’m doing now.”

      His lips quirked. He turned away from her. Shot down.

      “Davis, you don’t want the trouble I bring.”

      Her low words had him glancing back at her. “I can handle trouble. It’s kind of my specialty.”

      She swallowed. “You and your family...you’re good guys, and I wanted to—”

      She’d done it again. Made him laugh. The sound was rusty even to his own ears. “Oh, sweetheart,” he finally managed. “Whatever made you think I was one of the good guys?”

      Jamie took a step back. “But...”

      “Let’s be clear. I want you like damn hell on fire right now. I’ve been fantasizing about you for months. When I finally got my hands on you tonight...well, the desire I felt just got stronger. I want you.” Davis stared straight into her eyes as he said these words because he wanted