Hiding From Danger (Danger Incorporated Book 2) (8 page)

He stepped forward so their bodies were only a millimeter apart. She could feel the heat from his skin and smell the tang of his after shave. Their gazes collided and sent a jolt of awareness all the way to her toes. “Among other things. I like playing with you. We have so many…games still waiting to be played.”

Her breath caught in her throat, she could barely breathe let alone reply to his sexually charged statement. Seconds ticked away as they seemed drawn closer, his lips finally capturing hers, owning her senses in a kiss that left her clinging to him like a wilted vine. Her knees had given out and the only thing holding her upright was his strong arms wrapped snuggly around her waist.

Detective West Anderson was so damn sexy it ought to be illegal. If the cocky grin on his face was any indication he was well aware of it.

“We should get up to the house.” Her voice sounded relatively normal despite the rhumba her heart was currently performing against her ribcage. “We don’t want to keep your parents waiting.”

“We’ve got plenty of time but this isn’t the time or place for what I have in mind. Later.”

His words held a world of promise and she couldn’t control the release of butterflies in her stomach as he led her to the truck. It was hard enough dealing with her past but now she had a future to contend with as well.

Always before she’d left before any real feelings took hold inside but this time was totally different. West had grabbed a piece of her heart and wouldn’t let go. She didn’t want to care for him or love him, for heaven’s sake. That would be a disaster. Foster kids from alcoholic mothers didn’t fall for ranching royalty and expect a happy ending.

She simply wasn’t sure she had any choice in the matter.

‡

G
igi hadn’t been
lying earlier when she told him she could shoot. She’d easily knocked down the cans he’d set up on an old log way out in the far pasture. He’d tweaked a few issues with her stance and grip but all she really needed was more practice. If he’d known before that someone was out to find her he would have made sure she had the opportunity for target practice on a regular basis.

She’d also been charming at lunch and then again at dinner, entertaining his parents with stories of the eclectic diner clientele. He hadn’t expected to stay this long at the ranch but after a long day it had been easier to let his mother cook dinner.

She’d made lasagna and that was one of his favorites. Plus chocolate cake for dessert. Heaven on a plate.

They were relaxing in the living room, practically the whole family there except for Leann. West knew his parents missed their only daughter but she wasn’t fond of ranch life and the macho alpha males that seemed to populate it. Her last boyfriend had been some sort of artist – complete with a gold stud in his tongue – who liked to recite bad poetry.

Travis was filling in West’s father on the recent restructuring in one of the business divisions while Brinley, Gigi, and his mother looked through old photo albums. West was pretty sure there were some pictures in there he wouldn’t want a single soul to see but it was too late now. They were obviously enjoying themselves and their walk down the Anderson memory lane.

Jason nodded toward the kitchen. “Got a minute? I’d like to review the arrangements for tomorrow.”

With a quick glance in Gigi’s direction, West followed Jason into the other room. Gigi had been worried about getting along with his parents but she appeared to be fitting in just fine.

West settled into a chair at the kitchen table opposite Jason. “I really appreciate your help with this. I feel better knowing there’s someone besides me watching over Gigi.”

“Glad to help. Honestly the more I hear about Morton the more I dislike the guy. I talked to a friend at the FBI and he says the guy is ten kinds of dirty right along with his friends. But I can see how Gigi got caught up with him. His file says he’s charming and well-educated. Likes museums, opera, and fine dining. That usually impresses the ladies.”

“I just hope I get a chance to punch him right in the gut after everything he’s put her through. Are you sure your friend doesn’t have enough to arrest him yet? It would be much simpler if he went to jail.”

“He’s building his case. That’s something we need to discuss after we find Gigi’s brother and sister. My friend may be able to help with that as well. He’s excellent at delivering messages I’ve found. At six-foot-four and two-hundred and fifty pounds, Faulkner stands out wherever he goes.”

“Tell him I appreciate his help thus far. As for what to do with Morton my goal is to put the fear of God into him. I want him to know that if he comes within a hundred mile radius of Gigi it will be very bad news for him. Painfully bad.”

Jason rested his elbows on the table, his lips pursed in thought. “Listen, I know you want to beat on this guy for awhile and I can’t say that I blame you a bit. But…you going to jail isn’t going to keep your woman safe. You need to keep your head on straight and control your temper at all times. I think we can scare Morton off just using the information we already know. He doesn’t want any more attention from government authorities than he has already.”

The terrified expression Gigi had worn when she told her story still haunted West. That she’d lived with fear that great every day for so long made him want to wrap her in cotton wool and keep her safe for the rest of her life. “When you put it like that I’d settle for one good punch.”

Jason laughed and shook his head. “Don’t do anything stupid, little brother. Alan Morton is one bad dude who doesn’t give a shit. So what if you put a hurt on him? He’s got a dozen henchmen to come after you and mess up your pretty face. And let’s be honest here, your looks are about all you have going for you.”

“You’re an asshole, big brother,” West smirked. “You’re just jealous of my brains and talent catching those bad guys.”

“I think I’ll hobble through life just fine. Now let’s talk about tomorrow. If we get on the road early, before sunrise, it would be best. I’ll be in the lead, you and Gigi in the middle, and Travis bringing up the rear. We need to keep in constant radio contact and stick closely together no matter what.”

“Travis? I thought Logan was driving in today to do this?”

“The twins both have the flu,” Jason sighed. “He and Ava have their hands full. Travis kindly offered to help out but it tells me that I need to hire another field man.”

West stood and paced the kitchen, too restless to keep still. He was anxious to get on the road, find Gigi’s siblings, and then put an end to Morton reign of terror. But he was a cautious man and one thought kept running around in his brain.

“What if this guy really brings it? If what Gigi says is true – and I don’t have any reason to believe it’s not – he wants her and he doesn’t care what he has to do to get her. He’s got badass men to do his bidding. And money. Which tells me he can buy even more people to do his dirty work. What if he sends an army? Are we prepared?”

Jason didn’t laugh or scoff at the question. “Your job is to keep Gigi safe. Always remember that. If we get ambushed, you get her and run. Don’t worry about us, we can take care of ourselves. We’ll be loaded for bear and ready and willing to do what needs to be done.”

West rubbed his throbbing temple. He hated the waiting around and was as anxious as Gigi to get this show on the road. “If anything happened to her…”

“Love’s a bitch but what’s a man to do when he’s found the right one? You can tell your kids the story in twenty years.”

Sitting straight up, West shook his head in denial. Marriage talk made him nervous. Jason was way off the mark here. “We’re not in love. It’s not like that.”

“Sure. Right. Whatever you say. Except that you two both look like you’re in love. I could be completely wrong. But I doubt it.”

Clearly Jason was laughing at West but the situation wasn’t funny in the least. Love was not in the equation here. West cared about Gigi but wasn’t ready to call it anything more. She sure as shit wasn’t in love with him. She’d been packed and ready to leave his ass in the dust without a backward glance.

“I don’t want to talk about my fucking feelings.”

Jason raised his brows at West’s tone. “That’s fine with me but don’t think because you don’t acknowledge them they’ll just go away. I can personally attest to that.”

“What time will you be at the house tomorrow?” West changed the subject heartily tired of the last one. He wasn’t a touchy-feely kind of guy who wanted to talk about love, rainbows, and unicorns.

“Five. Brinley offered to make us breakfast and pack it for the road plus some snacks so hopefully we can put a few hundred miles behind us before we have to stop. Be ready when we get there.”

West was more than ready. Finding Zachary Rogers and reuniting him with Gigi was the first step in getting back her life.

Alan Morton would be the second.

*     *     *

Gigi had trouble
keeping her eyes open, her lids weighted down with fatigue. After the physical exertion of today, she was wrecked. She’d be out like a light as soon as her head hit the pillow which was really a shame. There had been some serious sexual tension between her and West earlier and this might be the last night they had alone for awhile. But she wouldn’t complain. For the first time in forever, Gigi felt safe. Or safer. She’d almost forgotten how wonderful it felt.

The streetlights whizzed by as West drove them back to his house to finish packing and get some rest before their road trip tomorrow. She’d wanted to fly to Vegas but all three Anderson men had quickly squashed the idea. Jason especially had shaken his head and said that if Morton knew anything about computers he was probably monitoring transportation databases looking for her name. Then he’d grinned and excused himself to call someone named Jared about planting a false record to send Morton off the trail.

These men didn’t miss a trick and for that she was immensely grateful.

By the time he pulled into his driveway, she was half asleep, dozing on and off. “Home sweet home, babe. Next stop, dreamland. I’ll have you in bed within ten minutes.”

“Promises, promises,” she giggled with a wide yawn, rubbing her eyes. “You’ve never had much trouble getting me in bed, that’s for sure.”

West gave her a lopsided grin. “You weren’t easy. I remember being nervous as hell on our first date because you acted like you didn’t care one way or another if you were there or not. I was sweating.”

“It was picnic in July. We were all sweating.”

She remembered that sunny and hot day well. They’d eaten fried chicken and apple pie next to the lake and then took a ride on his Harley. He’d kissed her goodnight under a new moon and she’d never been the same since. He’d slowly become the best thing in her life.

He helped her out of the truck, handing her the chocolate cake his mother had wrapped up for them so he could carry the gun case and range bag that held the firearms and ammunition they’d used earlier. When they were inside he set the case and the bag on the coffee table before pointing up the stairs. “Go on up. I need to do a few things and then I’ll join you.”

No way was she going to argue. She was dead on her feet, barely remembering to place the chocolate cake in the refrigerator. “Don’t be too late. You need your sleep too.”

“Thirty minutes tops. Fifteen if I’m lucky. But I doubt you’ll be awake that long.”

She wasn’t too tired to get a goodnight kiss. If she wasn’t going to get lucky at least she’d get some sugar from this gorgeous hunk. Looping her arms around his neck she gave him her best come hither look. “How about a kiss for sweet dreams?”

His rough fingers caressed her cheek, sending a shiver of awareness down her spine and straight to more personal parts. Two muscular arms lifted her until she pressed against him, her legs wrapped around his lean middle. “Sweet dreams, huh? That doesn’t sound like any fun. How about hot dreams?”

She wasn’t feeling all that exhausted anymore. Blood fizzed in her veins like champagne while flames licked at her flesh, sending arrows of pleasure through her body. In this mood West was devilishly lethal.