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Once Bree knew he was deceiving her, their closeness would be over. That scared him more than the shadowy figure who was threatening her. He could deal with the external danger, but he honestly didn’t know if he could cope with having to watch Bree walk away.
* * *
I should have smashed those cups and used the pieces to slice your pretty face.
The voice Bree had chosen for her text-to-speech software was light and female. Most of the time, she found it soothing. Whenever she converted one of the threatening emails to speech and listened to it, the gentle tones somehow made the words even more frightening.
She gripped the edge of the desk with both hands, feeling as though a pillow was being pressed over her mouth and nose. Enough air was getting through to enable her to breathe. Just. But she was fighting to function. Each thought took a huge amount of effort.
She couldn’t ignore this any longer. This time there was a direct link between the emails and the person moving her belongings.
Rylan. Every instinct urged her to go to him. Relief flooded her veins at the thought of his strong, reassuring presence. She was halfway out of her seat when the alarm on her cell phone buzzed.
“Two o’clock appointment.” This voice was different. Robotic and mechanical. She’d set the reminder for ten minutes before her meeting with Lucas Brewer, the lighting engineer she employed for her shows.
Biting back an exclamation of annoyance, she headed for the hall. Papadum, who had been snoring like a freight train for most of the day, decided to accompany her.
“I guess you must be thirsty, big guy.” Bree patted the end that didn’t wag.
Pausing in the kitchen, she found a bowl and filled it with water. Leaving Papadum to the noisiest drinking she had ever heard, she went into the bathroom. A glance in the mirror confirmed her worst fears. She looked flustered and wan at the same time. Splashing cold water on her face helped a little. A fresh spray of perfume and a new application of lip gloss restored a little more normality. With a nod at her reflection, she returned to her office to collect the documents for her meeting.
“Oh, my goodness!” She gazed at Papadum in horror. “What happened to you?”
The dog was seated next to her desk. Long frothy strands hung from his jowls. He made a soft moaning sound.
Since Rylan was at the opposite end of the building, Bree decided to call him. “Papadum is foaming at the mouth.”
“I’m on my way.”
Bree ducked into Kasey’s office. “Tell Lucas I’ve been delayed.” She thrust a file at her assistant. “Here’s the lighting specification. I’ll be with him as soon as I can.”
She returned to her office and sat on the floor next to Papadum, stroking his back. The dog hiccupped miserably. Rylan arrived a few minutes later.
“I don’t know what happened,” Bree told him. “I gave him a drink and left him alone in the kitchen for a few minutes. When I got back, he was like this.”
He knelt next to Papadum. To Bree’s surprise, he sniffed the dog’s breath. “Do you by any chance use lemon-scented soap in your kitchen?”
“Um...yes.”
Rylan pried Papadum’s jaws open and gently shook the dog’s head. A bar of soap fell out of his mouth and onto the rug. “Yeah. That was one of the things I meant to warn you about. Papadum eats a lot of things he shouldn’t. Soap, socks, coins, nails, rocks... His best so far was my phone charger. Nature takes its course with most things, but he needed surgery to remove that.”
“You loaned me a broken dog?” Bree huffed.
His face was inches from hers, his blue eyes alight with laughter. “Sorry about that.”
“Anything else I should know?” She edged a little closer.
“When you ask him if he’s been fed, he may not always give you an honest answer.”
His arms closed around her and his lips met hers. The kiss was exactly what Bree needed. She felt safe, warm and protected. Giving a little murmur of appreciation, she pressed tight against him. The embrace didn’t last long. Papadum raised a paw and struck Rylan on the shoulder. The move almost sent him sprawling face first to the floor.
“I think that means he needs more water.” He grinned. “Although I have no sympathy for him.”
Papadum rubbed his face affectionately along Rylan’s arm, leaving a trail of lemon-scented foam.
Bree laughed. “Go see to your dog. I’m late for a meeting.”
He got to his feet, holding out a hand to help her up. His gaze scanned her face. “Has something happened? Other than my crazy pet eating your soap?”
“Later. I’ll tell you all of it then.” Just being near him had given her new strength.
He took her face in his hands and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Okay.” Stooping, he ushered Papadum toward the door.
She drew in a breath. “Rylan?” He turned to look at her, and her nerve almost faltered. “You don’t have to sleep in your car tonight.”
The change in his expression almost sent her running back into his arms. Somehow, she managed to get her trembling limbs under control and make her way out into the gallery for her meeting.
* * *
“No one is ever going to believe I didn’t train you to do this.” Kasey had provided Rylan with a roll of paper towel, which he used to dry Papadum’s dreadlocks. “Although I think you could have found a smarter way of getting her attention than eating her soap.” The dog held up a heavy hairy paw. “Shaking hands? Yeah, that could have worked, but it’s hard to see how it would have needed my intervention. Maybe you should have tried the non-stop sneezing thing you did that time when you caught a fly.”
Once Papadum was restored to normality, Rylan decided to return him to Bree. The dog’s purpose was to guard her after all. He couldn’t do that if they were in different rooms.
The gallery was a vast open space. Having studied a floor plan of the building, Rylan knew there was ten thousand square feet of floor space. With its high ceilings and white walls, the former warehouse provided a unique opportunity to display large sculptures and paintings, as well as smaller pieces. Bree had made it bright, open and fun, with a strong sense of diversity.
Her own paintings were glorious. Celebrating people, African American women in particular, she had a knack for capturing the perfect moment. Characterized by bold angular shapes and brilliant colors, her pictures evoked feelings of heart and home. Little girls playing, women gossiping, family gatherings—all were treated with Bree’s own unique empathy and quirky humor. Her signature was a simple letter B.
Rylan found her in an area that had been completely cleared, ready for the Spirit show. She was so deep in conversation with a dark-haired man about her own age that she didn’t notice Rylan as he approached. They were standing side by side with their heads bent over a large sheet of paper. The guy’s stance caught Rylan’s attention. He was just a little too close to Bree, a little too attentive.
He tried to dismiss his unease, telling himself he was letting his feelings for Bree get the better of him. When Papadum saw Bree and gave a delighted bark, interrupting their conversation, Rylan had a chance to review his first impression. Instead of changing his mind, however, his opinion was reinforced.
Over Bree’s head, her companion gave Rylan a look that was so laden with suspicion and jealousy it was almost comical. Almost. With everything that was going on, it immediately sent Rylan’s protective instincts into overdrive.
“Hey, Papadum.” Having finally figured out the dog’s anatomy, Bree found his ears and scratched between them. Since that particular caress was Papadum’s favorite thing in the whole world, he promptly fell at her feet in an ecstatic canine heap.
Laughing, Bree turned to Rylan. “He seems to have recovered.”
“I don’t think there’ll be any lasting effects. Just hide the soap—and anything else that you consider inedible but that would fit down the gullet of a large, foolish dog—and everything will be fine.”
“Is that a dog?” Although it was a common reaction to Papadum, when it came from the guy who was still standing way too close to Bree, Rylan found it irritating.
“Papadum is my new guard dog,” Bree explained. “Oh, sorry. I forgot you two don’t know each other. Rylan Bennet... Lucas Brewer. Lucas does the lighting for all my shows. Rylan manages a group of young artists who will be showcasing their work during Spirit.”
Lucas tried to get away with a curt nod, but Rylan smiled and held out his hand. “Good to meet you.”
The other man was forced to return his handshake and make eye contact. Did he get the stern warning Rylan flashed his way? He certainly pulled his hand away quickly and dropped his gaze fast. One thing was for sure, Rylan didn’t think Lucas would forget him...and that had been his intention.
“I’ll leave you to your meeting.” Ignoring Lucas, Rylan spoke directly to Bree.
She smiled, apparently oblivious to any hostile undercurrents. “Papadum and I will see you later.”
Rylan walked away, convinced he could feel Lucas’s stare hitting a point just between his shoulder blades. The guy clearly had a thing for Bree. Did that mean he was the person harassing her? It was a big leap from one to the other, and possibly said more about Rylan’s own insecurities than anything about the other man. Even so, he would be using all his resources to find out more about Lucas Brewer.
When he reached the promotions office, he checked his cell phone. Although he employed a full-time helper, Rylan liked to maintain a hands-on approach to the welfare of his animals. The personalized app he used allowed him to monitor what was going on at the ranch while he was away.
Not for the first time, he wondered what Bree would think if she could see his mismatched collection. Ranch described the property he had bought. Sanctuary was the home he provided for his animals.
From duck pond to donkey stall, the video cameras showed him scenes that were about as tranquil as it ever got. As the number of his adopted animals had grown, he had promised he wouldn’t spend much time away from home. That had been before he met Bree. She had changed everything.
Watching her with Papadum, he could see that she obviously loved animals...even quirky ones. A slight smile touched his lips as he tried to picture her among his other misfits. But what was the point? Looking into the future was a waste of time. As far as Bree was concerned, Rylan had blown it before he’d even started.
Chapter 5 (#u91ecdebd-38d6-5a69-9844-2e5006dda521)
Although Bree ordered her favorite Thai meal of pad gra prao goong, she barely touched the delicious stir-fried king prawns with vegetable chili and basil leaves. There were two reasons for her gastronomic indifference. One was Rylan’s presence. The other was the topic of conversation.
His expression grew increasingly stony as he read through the emails on Bree’s cell phone. “I had no idea.”
It seemed like a strange statement. “How could you? I’ve only just told you about them.”
He took a long slug of his beer. “What I meant was, I never would have known you were dealing with all of this.” His gaze searched her face. “You said your brother knows about these emails?”
Bree shifted in her chair. “I haven’t told him about the most recent ones. The ones with the pictures and the violent threats.” She speared a prawn, then dropped her fork back onto her plate. “Or the racial slurs.”
“You have to tell him, Bree. And about how this creep has upped his game and is moving your personal belongings.” Rylan’s jaw muscles tightened. “This situation is dangerous. The guy who is threatening you has been inside your apartment. I don’t understand why you are so reluctant to confront this head-on.”
Bree took a moment to glance around the busy restaurant. With its cool contemporary colors and stylish decor, the owners had given the classic Thai themes of gilded lacquer work and lotus flowers a modern twist. Most tables were occupied, and the early evening atmosphere was relaxed.
Are you here? Are you watching me?
So much for the chilled vibe. It was working on everyone except Bree. Her gaze roamed around the room, lingering briefly on each of the men as she tried to assess which, if any, of them might be responsible for threatening her. This is exactly what he wants.
With an effort, she forced her attention back to Rylan’s comment. “It all comes back to what I was telling you last night. My family is wonderful. They love me and look out for me. Sometimes they care so much they forget I’m an adult.”
Rylan smiled. “You mean they get a little overprotective?”
Bree snorted. “A little? If they could have me wrapped me up in lambswool for my whole life that would suit them just fine.” She sighed. “They—and they means uncles, aunts and cousins, as well as my parents and Trey—still see me as the little girl who needed extra support. If they think I’m in trouble, my life will cease to be my own.”
Rylan reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Bree, you’re one of the strongest people I know. I don’t see why getting help from the police with this stalker means your family would need to step in and take over your life.”
“That’s because you don’t know how being a Colton works. The combined strength of my family is a fearsome thing...especially when they’re right.”
“My nickname in the army was Lucky,” Rylan said.
“Okay.” Bree blinked at him. “Smooth subject change—”
“Let me finish, wise gal. Although I learned some tough skills in the army, I figured another tour of duty would see me coming back in a body bag. I got out of my commission, just before my unit was wiped out by a roadside ambush.”
“Oh, my goodness.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine how awful that must have been.”
He lowered his gaze to their entwined fingers but not before she caught a glimpse of how much the experience had torn him apart. It was clearly something he was not comfortable talking about.
Bree decided to move the conversation on. “So Lucky comes from your knack of escaping just in time?”
“Yes, but that’s not the reason for this story,” Rylan said. There was a hint of gratitude in his eyes as he raised them to her face. “The skills and experience I gained in the army haven’t gone away. Your family doesn’t need to protect you, Bree. Not when I’m around.” His eyes locked on hers. “And that will be for as long as you need me.”
The people, light and noise around them faded. Heat spread throughout Bree’s body. It had the power to overwhelm her, and also complete her. When she looked at Rylan, it felt as though she was standing in the center of a dangerous fire, yet she was completely safe. Her heart constricted, squeezing the air from her lungs. At the same time, she wanted to dance, run, sing, leap...anything to release the energy surging through her.
Before she could speak, Rylan’s attention was diverted. “Isn’t that the guy you met with earlier today?” He nodded in the direction of a nearby table.
Bree followed the direction of his gaze. Sure enough, Lucas Brewer was deep in conversation with his younger brother, Joe.
“That’s strange.” She allowed herself a momentary distraction. “When I told Lucas I was coming to AppeThaizer with you tonight, he didn’t mention he would be here as well.” She shrugged. “Maybe I gave him the idea.”
“I’m sure that was it.” Even though Rylan’s expression was unreadable, there was an underlying intensity that Bree hadn’t seen before. It was fleeting, and he turned back to her again, his eyes dropping to her almost untouched food. “Do you want coffee?”
She nodded. “But not here. I definitely got a new pack today.”
He reached for Papadum’s leash. “Then what are we waiting for?”
* * *
Once Bree had locked her apartment door, they removed their warm outdoor jackets, and Rylan stooped to remove Papadum’s leash. As he straightened and turned toward the kitchen, Bree reached for his hand...and everything slowed. He wasn’t sure who made the first move—maybe they both acted at the same time—but their lips met, and his resolve faded.
Can’t do this.
The thought was a faint echo, almost drowned out by a passion that was instant and raging. Bree’s fingertips traced the muscles of his back as her lips parted and her tongue caressed his. If he didn’t stop this soon, he would be lost...
Breathing hard, he broke the kiss and took a step back. Bree watched him with wide-eyed wonder. The silence between them stretched, became awkward, then tipped over into uncomfortable.
Coming back here had been a bad idea. But not coming back here wasn’t an option. How was he supposed to protect her from a distance? Self-control. That was the answer. All he had to do was forget how much he wanted her, get a grip on his emotions and stay professional.
“Um, coffee.” He jerked a thumb in the direction of the kitchen. “Wasn’t that what you wanted?”
Bree stepped up close, took ahold of his arms and drew them around her waist. Rylan resisted the temptation to groan out loud.
“That was what I wanted. But there’s something—or someone—I want more.” A little of the light faded from her eyes as she scanned his face. “Unless...?”
How much worse could this situation get? Until he met Bree, Rylan had never known there was such a thing as the woman of his dreams. Now, she was in his arms, and her beautiful lower lip was quivering because she thought he was about to turn her down. He already knew how fragile she was. How could he be the one to hurt her?
“Bree, you must know how much I want you.” He tightened his arms around her. Always a good way to keep your distance. “I just wonder if this is the best idea. You know, with us working together...”
She gave a relieved laugh. “Is that all? Because we’re not exactly employed by the same company.” Rising up on her tiptoes, she whispered against his lips. “And I won’t tell if you don’t.”
That whole self-control thing? Yeah, that wasn’t working out quite the way he’d planned. Bree gave a little squeal as he swung her off her feet and marched her out of the living area.
“Other direction,” she murmured into the curve of his neck. “You’re heading for the guest bathroom.”
Rylan turned on his heel, finding her bedroom and closing the door just before Papadum could follow them inside. When he set her on her feet, the smile in Bree’s eyes nearly sent him to his knees. Desire surged through him, savage and fierce, setting his blood alight. Alongside it, there was a deeper sensation that mirrored the swelling tide of passion with a soft tenderness that astonished him.
