Amaya

Later that evening, Amaya tucked Peyton into bed, stroking back her daughter’s curls as they said their prayers together. Normally this was one of her favorite times of the day, but Agent Marquez was due to arrive at any moment. Her anxiety seemed to increase with every beat of her heart and her stomach was queasy with worry. Luckily, Paul was there to take up the slack and he sat on the other side of Peyton’s mattress along with Elvis.

Closing her eyes, Amaya prayed with all her heart that God would keep them safe.

Once their prayers were finished, Amaya stood and turned off the main light, leaving the room illuminated by the sparkle-filled nightlight plugged into the far wall. It cast small, soft rainbow specks all over the room, making it look like something out of a fairytale. As usual, Paul had gone above and beyond to make them feel welcome in his home, and he’d helped Peyton paint and decorate her room. It was a lovely space, and it fit her daughter’s rather eclectic personality. At first Amaya had objected about Paul spending all his time and money making this space into a place fit for a mermaid loving princess, but Peyton adored it, so she put aside her reservations.

As Elvis settled into his spot at the foot of the bed, Peyton reached out to Paul. “Hugs.”

Paul bent down and enveloped the little girl in his massive arms, his eyes closed as a content smile softened his rugged face. A flashback of her earlier conversation with Paul came to her as she watched her daughter unabashedly hug him back, the same smile of contentment tilting her small lips. Everything in Amaya’s world seemed to pause as she realized that, somehow in these past few weeks, not only had she started to fall in love with Paul, but her daughter loved him as well. And he clearly adored her little girl.

Giving Peyton a kiss on the forehead, Paul stepped back so Amaya could have her turn.

The fruity scent of Peyton’s berry shampoo filled her as she nuzzled her face against her daughter’s soft neck, making the little girl giggle. “Goodnight, Mommy. I love you more than ice cream.”

“Goodnight, Peyton. I love you more than rainbows.”

More giggles, and as they made their way out of the room, Peyton said, “Goodnight, Paul. I love you more than pizza.”

Paul froze, and his voice came out thick as he said, “Goodnight, Peyton. I love you more than cupcakes.”

Leaving the door cracked enough for Elvis to get out, Amaya pretended not to see Paul wiping away a tear. She gave him a moment to gather himself while she feigned stretching. Hell, she needed a moment as well. They moved down the stairs in silence together. By the time she made it to the kitchen, she was pretty sure she could look at him without bursting into tears.

Paul moved past her and grabbed a bottle of beer out of the fridge, his gaze distant as he twisted the cap off then took a long drink.

“You okay?” she asked as she moved next to him at the counter, then gently rubbed his shoulder.

He took another long drink, the nodded. “Yeah, I’m better than okay.”

After giving his rough cheek a kiss, she moved to the other side of the kitchen. Taking out a bottle of wine she’d opened the other day, she poured herself a glass. As she took a sip the tart taste exploded on her tongue, clearing away some of the emotional fog surrounding her.

Turning back around to face her, Paul set his bottle down and leaned back against the counter, his broad chest stretching the faded Detroit Lions t-shirt that clung to his thick frame. “You know, I thought winning the Super Bowl was the best feeling ever. Standing there, in the middle of the field, surrounded by my teammates and fans...I felt like a fucking God. But as good as that was, hearing Peyton say she loved me was even better. I can’t even put into words how that makes me feel.”

He held his arms out, and she moved into his embrace, setting her glass next to his beer bottle. “You’re easy to love.”

Hugging her tight, he whispered, “So are you.”

Her heart began to race. When she looked up at him, she found him gazing down at her with an open love that made butterflies swirl around in her belly. Together, they closed the distance between them, their lips meeting in a kiss that was filled with the words she wasn’t brave enough to say. Instead, she tried to show him through her touch, through her caress, that she really did care for him. He began to nibble his way over to her jaw, then down her neck, nipping and biting at the sensitive skin there until a soft groan of pleasure broke free. Her pussy grew wet, swollen with desire. She had the urge to bend over the counter and lift her long peasant skirt up, then demand Paul do something about the ache he’d started inside of her.

He cupped her breast in one big hand, his thumb teasing her already hard nipple and sending pulses of pleasure straight to her clit. Gripping his shoulders, she sucked gently on the side of his neck, the slight salt of his skin mixing with his cologne as she nibbled on the solid muscles. His erection pressed into her lower stomach and she lifted one leg, hooking it around his hip and grinding herself against him.  

The chime of the front doorbell rang through the house and Amaya quickly stepped away from Paul, her chest heaving as desire surged through her.

“Dean’s here,” Paul said with an irritated look as he palmed his hard shaft and grimaced.

The reality that had been held at bay by the power of her arousal came crashing back, chasing away any lingering pleasure from his touch. Her stomach twisted and all the fear she’d tried to compartmentalize burst free from its little box. She wanted time to freeze, to just stay right here in this moment so she wouldn’t have to face whatever news Agent Marquez was bringing to her in person.

Paul gave her shoulder a squeeze as he passed. “I’ll be right back.”

Numb, she nodded then grabbed her glass from the counter, downing the rest of the wine in one big swallow. Male voices drifted up the stairs leading to the first level as she refilled her glass, then closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths. By the time the men reached the living room, she had managed to get her shit under control. At the sight of Agent Marquez, she even smiled.

In his late forties, Marquez was a slender man with dark coffee skin and narrow brown eyes. He’d dressed in his usual impeccable dark navy suit and neutral tie, always the consummate professional. He had a little more grey in his hair than when she’d seen him last, but still radiated strength and vitality. Next to him stood Dean, who had the same big build as his brother, along with the firm jaw and high cheekbones that seemed to be the genetic mark of a McGregor. Unlike Paul, Dean inherited their father’s dark reddish brown hair and blue eyes. He wasn’t in his sheriff uniform, but she could still spot the concealed gun beneath his loose-fitting, button down blue shirt. A few years younger than Paul, Dean was handsome in a more conventional way than his older brother. And he had a killer, dimpled smile that made most women swoon. He turned that smile on her, but she was focusing so hard on not falling to pieces that it was wasted.

“Amaya,” Agent Marquez said in a smooth, lightly accented voice. “It’s so good to see you again.”

She moved out of the open kitchen and into the living room area before giving him a hug, careful not to spill her wine. “It’s good to see you, too.”

Paul made a little growling sound, but they both ignored him as Agent Marquez gave her a quick look up and down before he smiled. “I like the hair.”

Blushing, she fingered her dark locks. “Thanks. It, uh, helps me blend in with the locals more.”

Suddenly Paul was at her side, nudging her out of the way so he could stick his hand out. “Paul McGregor.”

Raising his eyebrows slightly, Agent Marquez took Paul’s hand and shook it. “Jose Marquez. Nice to meet you.”

Dean gestured to the living room area with its massive leather couches. “Why don’t we have a seat?”

Agent Marquez placed his hand on her lower back, once again ignoring Paul’s warning growl. She wanted to tell him to calm the hell down, that Agent Marquez was a happily married man with no interest in her, but she had bigger things to worry about. When she took a seat on the wide dark blue couch, Paul made sure to quickly sit next to her, close enough that she was almost on his lap.

Dean sighed, but Agent Marquez merely took Paul’s possessive actions in stride, like he wasn’t acting like a growling dog guarding his territory.

She was so nervous, she was trembling. Even though she didn’t care for Paul’s possessive reactions, she had to admit it steadied her to have him at her side. While they got comfortable, she took another sip of her wine to compose herself. The delicious wine, crisp and full of spice, washed the sour tang of fear out of her mouth as she tried to force herself to meet Marquez’s searching eyes, but couldn’t. If he saw how upset she truly was, he’d try to comfort her, and Paul might bite him. Bulldog indeed.

Well, Paul would just have to get over it. She had a special fondness for Marquez because he was the one who found her, left for dead in the empty storage container her abductor had kept her in. For that alone, she’d love him forever, but it was his dedication to helping her through the aftermath of the ordeal that earned her eternal gratitude. He’d personally made sure she was able to quietly disappear. He’d even called in personal favors and pulled a few strings to make sure she wasn’t found. The media had speculated for a while about where she was, but Marquez had stuck to the official stance that she’d simply gone someplace quiet to heal, and asked that they respected her privacy. That was it. Without much of a story, the paparazzi eventually forgot about her. Or at least she hoped they had. For her own sanity, she rarely searched her old name on the Internet.

Agent Marquez glanced at Paul, then back to her again. “Would you like to discuss this alone?”

“No, it’s fine. He knows about my stalker and the fire.”

The other man nodded, giving her a look that let her know he understood that she hadn’t told Paul about her past. “We’re still not certain your stalker is the one who set the fire, but it looks like someone searched your house before they tried to burn it down.”

“What were they looking for?” Paul asked.

“Anything and everything.” He raised a dark brow. “It could have just been a random crime.”

“But you don’t think that’s what happened.” Paul put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “If you did, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

“Like I said, we don’t yet know what happened.”

“What do you know?” Paul asked with a low growl.

“Give him a chance to talk,” Dean said with an exasperated roll of his eyes.

Agent Marquez leaned forward so his forearms rested on his knees. “While I have no proof, my gut feeling is that whoever did this was looking for Amaya. When he didn’t find her, he got pissed. When I say her house was trashed, I mean it was trashed. Someone destroyed it in a fit of rage, and that tells me they didn’t find whatever it was they were looking for.”

A shiver of fear worked down her spine and she was thankful for Paul’s presence. “I don’t think I left anything there that would tell them where I was going. I’ve been using my untraceable backup account for money and I haven’t logged into any of my social media.”

“Smart girl.” Agent Marquez nodded. “Amaya, no one knows you’re here, and we’re keeping it that way. Green Haven is the best place in the world for you to stay at this point. Dean is a smart man. He’ll keep you safe.”

“She’s staying with me,” Paul growled out.

“Paul,” she hissed. “This is something we need to discuss in private, but you have to know Peyton and I can’t stay here forever. We need our own place.”

He didn’t even look at her, too intent on having his stare down with Marquez. “You’re staying with me.”

Annoyed, she threw her elbow into his muscled ribs and tried not to wince. Cripes, the man was as solid as a tree trunk. And very possessive. Paul obviously didn’t like how familiar she was with the other man, but that was just tough. Marquez was her friend, a good one, and Paul could either realize that and chill out, or she was going to call him out on his bullshit.

“Paul,” she said in a soft voice, “look at me.”

Reluctantly, he did as she asked, but she could tell his attention wasn’t really on her. “What?”

“Look. At. Me.”

Finally, he did and his expression lightened with a small grin. “Did you just use your mom voice on me?”

“Are you acting like a child?”

Oh, he didn’t like that. Angry lines formed around his eyes and mouth, and his full lips thinned. “I’m acting like a man who just found out the two people cares about most in this world are in significant danger.”

Her heart raced for a different reason as she stared into his eyes, his fear plain to see. “I understand, but you can’t just order me to do things. We need to talk about our staying here before I make any major decisions.”

His square jaw firmed, but he nodded. “You’re right, and I’m sorry. I just—I need to protect you, Amaya. The thought of anything happening to either of you is my worst nightmare.”

After setting her wine glass down on the large coffee table, she cupped his cheek in one hand, rubbing her thumb over the bristles of his five o’clock shadow. “I understand, I really do, but this is my problem.”

Lowering his voice, he leaned over so he could whisper into her ear, “Wrong, this is our problem.”

“As fun as this is to watch,” Dean said with a mocking drawl. “Do ya think we can get back on task here?”

“Shut it.” Paul pulled Amaya into his arms.

She allowed Paul to tuck her further into his broad body, her cheek resting against his solid chest, his brawny arms pinning her easily to his side. He was so solid and he smelled delicious. Taking a deep breath, she just wanted the world to go away and leave her with this moment. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to happen, so she pried herself away, giving Paul a brief kiss on the cheek then composed herself.

Meeting her old friend’s curious gaze, she squared her shoulders and sat up straight. “Okay, so I’m safe here in Green Haven, right?”

“You are,” Marquez affirmed, then his lips grew thin and tight as he grimaced. “Unfortunately, for your own safety, I don’t think you’ll be returning to your old life in Key Largo anytime soon.”

“Will I have to change my name again?” She hadn’t meant to say that, but the words escaped her before she could stop them.

Paul jerked next to her, but she tried to pretend she couldn’t feel his intense stare as Marquez said, “No, I don’t think it will come to that. Just stay off social media. Don’t access any of your old accounts. While we have no idea what this individual is capable of, I’d rather not leave any kind of paper or cyber trail for him to follow. Kelly and your lawyers have power of attorney to deal with your insurance company, and they’ll make sure you have untraceable access to your funds.”

For a moment, she felt so defeated, so alone. The thought of having to start all over again drained her. “Okay.”

Once again, Paul pulled her into a hug, his massive body so warm and safe. She burrowed into his shirt, fighting the tears and trying to push back all the worry and regrets that threatened to turn her into a sobbing mess. Why did this have to happen to her? Hadn’t she been through enough? How many times would she have to leave everything behind? What the hell was she going to do?

She must have said the last part aloud, because Paul murmured, “Shhh, it’s okay. You’re not alone. You’ve got me, and I promise you I’ll do everything I can to make sure both you and Peyton are happy here. And safe.”

“Schools are good,” Dean added as he watched her with a sympathetic expression. “Thanks to Paul, we’ve got great places to shop, and the land around here is beautiful. You’ll be able to find a nice place, no problem.”

“She’s living with me,” Paul growled out, “They both are.”

Closing her eyes and praying for patience, she leaned back in Paul’s rigid arms, against his puffed-up chest, and glared up at him. “Didn’t we just talk about you making decisions for me?”

“Just until the cottage is finished.” He gave her a worried look that somehow melted her anger away. “Please. This place is safe, and you know I’d never let anyone harm you and Peyton while I have a breath left in my body. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big guy. I did MMA training and know how to fight, and I know how to use a gun.”

“Paul, I’m not sure if this is the best idea. Maybe...maybe we should go stay in a hotel until the cottage is finished. I don’t want you to get caught up in my drama. What if, God forbid, my stalker was able to find me and you got hurt? I’d never forgive myself.”

“You think I’d forgive myself if anything happened to either of you?” He grabbed her hand, an almost desperate look in his eyes. “Don’t you understand? I’d rather die than have anything happen to my girls. You’re safer here with me than on your own.”

“Actually, Amaya,” Marquez said in a serious tone, “He is correct. This house, due to its location and build, is safer than a hotel. Both for you and anyone around you. It’s harder to control who has access to your location at a public hotel.”

Dean cleared his throat. “I think Aunt Jean has a place for rent on her property.”

“Forget it,” Paul narrowed his eyes at his brother. “She’s staying with me.”

“I think that’s up to Amaya,” Dean said in a firm voice.

Before the brothers could start arguing, she said in a voice loud enough to be heard over their bickering, “I’ll be staying with Paul, at least until things settle down a little more. If Marquez says this is the safest place for me, I believe him.”

“Thank you.” Paul’s entire body relaxed and he leaned back into the couch. “Elvis is going to be thrilled you’re staying. I’m afraid that if you left, he’d kill me in my sleep.”

“I don’t know why you make him out to be such a monster. He’s a love bug.”

“Elvis?” Dean said with a loud laugh before he held up his hand. “See these scars? Those are from your ‘love bug’ when I had to hold him down so Paul could give him his flea treatment. Ungrateful beast.”

Laughing softly, she looked over at Marquez and found him studying her closely.

His dark eyes held hers as he said, “You sure about this? You know you have plenty of other options. I could find you a safe place to stay today, if you wanted.”

“No, I’m sure.” She darted a glance at Paul, and the sense of having made the right choice eased through her. “Peyton is used to being here now. She has her own room, and she loves Paul. He’s really good with her, very patient, and he knows how to communicate on her level.”

Next to her, Paul beamed and her heart melted a little at his obvious happiness and pride.

Dean gave his brother a teasing grin. “Yeah, he’s super immature, so I can see how they’d get along.”

“Shut up,” Paul scowled at his brother but Dean only laughed.

Marquez stood and adjusted his well-cut suit. “I’m going to head back to Miami tomorrow to see if we can flush out this guy, wherever he is. We’ve got agents all over the area waiting for him to slip up.”

She blew out a harsh breath. “Okay. It’s just...this is a lot to take in.

Marquez came over and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I know it is. I really wish you didn’t have to go through this shit again, but I’m going to make sure we catch this guy.”

“Okay. Thank you, Agent Marquez.”

“Just doing my job, ma’am,” he said as he gave her a gentle hug.

They said their goodbyes and, after Paul had walked them out to their car, she collapsed back on the sofa, throwing her arm over her eyes.