Chapter Thirteen

Her hands shook as she got the kit and cleaned out his wound. She knew it had to hurt every time the needle pierced his skin—it hurt her just to see it—but he never gave her any indication of distress.

“How did you end up working here?” he asked when she let out a distressed breath at the start of the third stitch.

“It was the summer after my freshman year in college. The Romeros, my last foster family, were nice enough to let me come back and live with them after my first year at school. They didn’t live too far from here, so it was a fun and convenient summer job.”

She winced as the needle pierced his skin again and she pulled the string to pull the edges of skin together, then tied it up with a knot.

“That’s good. My parents, Sheila and Clinton Patterson, are big fighters for older-age adoption and foster. One of their biggest causes was that kids needed a family, even after they aged out of the system. They still need somewhere to go when they’re young adults... The need for a support network doesn’t change just because you turn eighteen.”

“Yeah. The Romeros were good. I haven’t talked to them in the while. I probably should.”

She started another stitch.

“So, you liked working here?”

“Absolutely. The first time I ever saw a Maine coon was here. I even thought I might want to be a vet for a while, but I knew that would take a lot of schooling. Plus, I was already really good at computers.”

“Chance and I both went into the army straight out of high school. Brax and Weston went on to college.”

“No college for you?”

“I finished my associate’s degree in business, but I’m not a huge fan of sitting in classrooms. I’d rather be out crawling through burning buildings and dodging bullets.”

She laughed as she finished another stitch.

“The army gave me a purpose. I was always pretty physically strong and had good hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness. I was good at reading people and recognizing threats. It would’ve made a good skill set for working for someone like Ballard, or the equivalent. Being in the service helped me hone a sense of honor. Clarified the path that Clinton and Sheila started me on. I got out with the skills and purpose I needed to start San Antonio Security with my brothers.”

“And you like it? It’s done well?”

“Being in business with family always has its pros and cons. For example, none of us like to do paperwork and this month it’s my turn. I’d honestly rather sit here and let you do this to me for the rest of the month than have to do all the filing that’s waiting for me at my desk. So if we get this murder charge cleared up, we might have to rob a bank or something just so I don’t have to go back to the office.” She laughed again and finished another stitch.

“Maybe that’s how I’ll have to pay you back for helping me—paperwork.”

“I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. Well, maybe I’d wish it on Ballard. Except for what has happened over the last few days, have you liked working at Passage Digital?”

He was helping her, she realized. In the only way he could.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked. “Asking about your job?”

“I know what you’re doing...you’re distracting me. Given the circumstances, it should be the other way around. So, thank you.”

“I do want to know about your job. About you. I thought about you all the time, Kitten. I can’t tell you how many times I thought about using San Antonio Security’s resources to find you, check up on you, but I didn’t want to invade your privacy like that.”

“I’ve had a pretty uneventful life up until a couple of weeks ago. I liked working at Passage. Mostly because people there left me alone, as pathetic as that sounds.”

He chuckled. “You’ve never been a people person.”

“Nope, that didn’t change about me. My job was...a job. I went in, I did it, and I was good at it. I understand computers and they don’t exhaust me. My team leader, Julia—” Claire had to swallow back tears. “She and I weren’t really friends, but she was nice to me. She knew I worked best alone, so she rarely put me on group projects.”

“I’m sorry, Kitten. Friendships come in all different shapes and sizes. Yours may not have been a traditional one, but she was still your friend.”

“Yeah.” She never thought of it that way, but it was true.

“We’re going to make sure Ballard pays for what he has done.”

Claire wasn’t so sure. Ballard seemed to have the upper hand and now he was going to be looking any time she tried to access Digital Passage remotely.

She finished another stitch. She had to focus on what was in front of her; looking at the big picture was just going to overwhelm her. That was how she worked a computer problem, and it was how she needed to work this situation.

“How about your personal life? Ever been...married or anything?”

“No. A couple of boyfriends in college, but nothing serious. Trust issues, people issues, you know the deal. You?”

Her heart clenched as he waited so long, she was afraid he wasn’t going to answer.

“You and I are a lot alike in terms of people. I don’t necessarily avoid all contact with people, but my brothers all know not to send me in with clients. I’m way too gruff.”

“You’re not too gruff with me.”

“You’re the exception, Kitten. You always have been. And no, there hasn’t been anyone very serious for me, either.”

She finished the last two stitches.

“You vaguely resemble Frankenstein’s monster, but I think this will at least help it heal more quickly and keep out infection.”

“Thank you.”

She began cleaning up all her supplies on the table and put them in a trash bag. They’d have to take that out with them when they left in the morning.

“You got that because of me, so no thanks is necessary.”

He moved in front of her and cupped her cheeks.

“I got that because Ballard is a lying murderous bastard, not because of you. Because of your bravery and grit, I’m safe here in this apartment. I’m stitched up and better able to help protect us if we need it. That is because of you. Not the other stuff.” She didn’t know if she believed that, but at least for the moment, they were safe.

He chugged down a third nutrition shake and helped her finish cleaning. They found a couple of cans of soup and some crackers and Luke made a meal of it. Now that Luke was looking much steadier on his feet and strong enough to take on the world again, she found it difficult to stop staring at his very well-developed and muscular chest. Eventually they would have to find a shirt for him to put on, but for now she would enjoy the view. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice her embarrassed fascination, or if he did, he was too polite to tease her about it.

As a matter of fact, he may claim to be gruff, but he was charming and friendly to her despite her having tortured him for the past hour.

“I’m going to take a shower,” she announced after they cleared away the few dishes they had used. They were trying to clean up any messes as they went, just in case they had to leave in a hurry.

“Good idea. I’ll wash off the best I can after you.”

He flipped on the TV as she headed for the bathroom, but she stopped, turning in horror when she heard her name on the news.

“Local police this evening are asking for special assistance to find Claire Wallace.”

A picture of Claire filled the screen.

“Wallace was already wanted for questioning by the police for the murder of Julia Lindsey, a colleague and employee at Passage Digital. Now Wallace is wanted for the fire that destroyed Wars Hill library earlier this evening and for the shooting of a police officer. There is a reward for any information that leads to the capture of Wallace.” A phone number and email address floated across her picture on the screen.

Claire couldn’t stop the sob that escaped her. Luke was at her side in an instant. He reached out with the remote control and flipped the TV off.

“Hey.” He reached out to pull her into his arms, but she stepped back.

“Hey,” he said again. “This doesn’t change anything. We’re still going to figure out a way to clear your name.”

She nodded blankly. But how? How were they going to clear her name? Ballard had all the advantages, especially now that the cops thought she was the one who had shot that officer.

“I’m going to take a shower.”

She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed when Luke let her go. Once in the bathroom, she pulled her clothes off but brought them with her into the shower.

She used the body wash to try to get rid of some of the smoky smell on her clothes, then rinsed them thoroughly. Then she scrubbed her body from head to toe until she was almost raw.

That got rid of the smoky smell, but it didn’t change the fact that the situation had gotten even more dire. Who was she kidding? What were her real chances of being able to beat someone like Ballard? All she was doing now was dragging Luke into danger. He’d already been hurt because of it.

The towel was her only option while her clothes dried. She wrapped it around herself, thankful for once of her small stature since it covered enough of her to keep her decent.

Luke watched as she came out and sat on the bed, studying her with concern.

Certainly, he was not as distracted by the sight of some of her skin as she had been by his bare chest.

But what did she expect? Just because he’d been nice to her and had kissed her a couple of times didn’t mean he thought of her as anything more than just someone he used to know and was helping for old times’ sake. Given the circumstances, she should be glad he was even willing to do that.

“At least I don’t smell like a furnace anymore.” She tried for a lighthearted laugh, but it came out sounding stilted at best.

He nodded. “I’m going to wash off as best I can without getting my stitches wet. Then we should probably try to catch a few hours of sleep before figuring out our next plan.” She nodded and lay back. It was well after midnight and they could both use the rest.

Given everything, she should’ve been exhausted, but sleep wouldn’t come. Still wrapped in the towel, she got under the covers hoping that would help, but it didn’t. She just kept seeing the fire and Luke’s wound and that guy with the gun.

It was a nightmare she couldn’t wake up from.

“Whoa. Hey, Kitten, you’re shaking.”

Claire hadn’t even been aware that Luke had gotten out of the shower or sat down on the bed next to her.

“I’m... I’m okay.”

She wasn’t okay. She very definitely wasn’t okay.

“Hey. Hey, come here.”

She didn’t even think about resisting when he pulled her into his arms. He held her so close to him, his body absorbed her tremors until they finally stopped.

“I’m sorry. I’m acting like an idiot.”

He kissed along her forehead, keeping her wrapped up against him. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so secure.

“Don’t say that. I’ve known guys in the Special Forces who would have crumbled much harder under the pressure you’ve been through. You’re doing amazing.”

“I just don’t see how anything is ever going to be right again.”

She felt his fingers stroke along the bare skin of her shoulder blades as he laid them back. The shiver that ran through her this time had nothing to do with despondency.

“We’re going to figure this out. I know it seems hopeless right now, but I promise you, we are going to figure out a way to clear your name and make sure Ballard goes down.”

He said it with such deep, gruff authority, it was impossible not to believe him. She lifted her head off his chest so she could see his eyes. He was so sexy.

“Thank you. For everything.”

She leaned forward to give him a friendly kiss, but the moment she did, everything changed.

The kiss started soft but grew passionate and heated. This was what she wanted. She wanted to have this passion with him, even if it was only for tonight. She might have to make some hard choices to protect him in the morning, but for tonight, she wanted whatever she could get.

When she felt his hand tangle in her still-damp hair, pulling her closer, she knew Luke felt the same. She gave herself over to the kiss, almost scrambling on top of him in an effort to get closer.

But then he stopped.

She was so wound up, she didn’t even realize that he wasn’t kissing her with the same abandon that she was kissing him. It wasn’t until the hand that had been fisted in her hair loosened and he slid back that she became aware of it.

“Luke?”

“Kitten. You’ve been through so much. I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

Claire felt like her insides were being turned to pieces of ice. “You don’t want me? You don’t think of me that way?”

“Are you kidding?” He slid his hand down and yanked her hips against his. “Believe me, I want you. But you’ve been through enough. I don’t want you to feel pressured. I don’t want this to be something you’ll regret.”

The ice inside her began to fall. He did want her. He was just so protective, always had been.

She reached up and scraped her fingers gently down his jaw, loving the feel of the stubble growing there.

“I want you. There may end up being a lot of things I regret, but this is definitely not one of them.”

His brown eyes bored into hers. “Are you sure? I don’t expect anything. You don’t owe me any—”

She shut him up with a kiss. He probably still had another twenty minutes’ worth of protective alpha male speech to give her.

But she knew that she wanted him.

He took the hint and stopped trying to talk her out of what they both desperately wanted. Their lips fused together in a duel, a battle in which both of them won.

Then, as he kissed down her body, moving away the towel as he went, it chased away all the thoughts of Ballard and death and the inescapable mess she was in.

All she could feel was Luke.