Back in the safety of her car, Hannah leaned against the steering wheel until the shivering stopped.

What was wrong with her back there? How could she think those awful things? Sure, life was rough right now, between the bills, the worry, and Danny’s rehabilitation. But did she truly dream of abandoning her family? Of running away from everyone she loved? Was she that selfish, that greedy?

No. Her nerves settled, and she leaned back into the seat. She couldn’t believe that of herself. She didn’t think of herself as a fighter – but she wasn’t a quitter either. Nothing meant more to her than the people she loved. She would never desert them.

Then why the temptation? And why were the scenes of earthly pleasures so vivid, so real? Nothing made sense anymore. It was like she’d been under some kind of spell. Hallucinating. Was she going crazy? She’d never had a dream like last night’s, where Brandon claimed her as his soul mate. Now this. Mad, cowardly urges to waste money on silly whims.

Movement in her rear-view mirror. She caught a glimpse of LeMar walking out of the bank, speaking on his cell phone. Hannah looked away, praying he wouldn’t come over. When she glanced up, he was gone.

What now? Darkness had fallen while she waited in the bank. Back at home, Mom would be putting supper on the table. No doubt, they all worried about her and why she took such a mysterious trip yesterday. She smiled, imagining the look on their faces when they realized that she – their ‘little girl’ still at twenty-three – had saved the day. She’d found a gallant, rich stranger with enough money to redeem their home. Her smile faded a bit, growing sadder, melancholy. How could she explain Brandon to them? His strength. The raw, male power that radiated from him. They’d never understand.

Maybe that was just as well. The thought startled a stifled giggle from her. She certainly wasn’t a child anymore, but she still didn’t want to try to explain to her parents the raw, passionate desire this man made her feel. And something more than pure lust. A bond, a link, like she’d found the second half of her soul.

Perhaps, if they met him, they’d understand. If she could come up with an excuse to summon him to Upstate New York.

Wait. Her eyes brightened. She did have a question for Brandon! That nasty LeMar man seemed to know him. Maybe the two were acquaintances? It was worth asking. Although Hannah doubted the question would drag her mysterious protector all the way up here, she desperately wanted a reason – any excuse – to listen to his deep, rich voice again. To hear him say her name again.

Her breath grew shallow as she dialed the number. Hannah forced herself to breathe, to calm down. She couldn’t reveal her need for him. The embarrassment would kill her.

On the second ring, he answered. No greeting. No pleasantries. Just, “Brandon Lorde.”

How like him, she thought with a fond smile. Strong. A brusqueness that was almost rude – if you didn’t know the protective urge that lay beneath it. Though miles separated them, she closed her eyes and basked in the simple joy of hearing his voice.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

Oh, hell! She needed to say something! “Uh, hi!” Her thoughts scattered, and her cheeks burned as every coherent thought left her. “Hi, um, it’s…”

“Hannah!” Delight dispelled the growl that had crept into his voice. Her heart hammered at the sound. He’d missed her! He felt the same longing as she did. Only a few hours apart, and it was already obvious in his happy tone.

That happiness lasted less than a second. “What’s wrong?” he snapped. Already steeling himself to launch an attack on anything that threatened her.

“Well, nothing… exactly, but…”

‘Not exactly’ wasn’t good enough. “Are you in danger?” She heard a loud rustle from his end of the line, as if he was already snatching up his coat and preparing to rush to her side. His fierce, unquestioning defense thrilled her. Filled her with an echo of the desire she’d felt when the dream united them.

“No, I’m fine. I’m safe. I…”

“What’s wrong then? You’re nervous.”

“Well, it’s just…” She hesitated, trying to come up with a way to make LeMar’s ambush sound less crazy – but still scary. Right now, she wanted a protector in the worst way. Before she could organize her thoughts, however, Brandon decided he knew what enemy needed to be put down.

“Is the bank questioning the check? If they inconvenience you, I swear I will come up there and…”

Hannah gave an exasperated laugh. “Brandon, wait! Just… please, give me a second. I’ll explain if you let me!”

That quieted him. Most men would apologize after running her over like that. However, she was beginning to realize that apologies weren’t really Brandon Lorde’s ‘thing.’ He simply hesitated, sighed, and said, “Please do.”

“Thanks.” Annoying as his fierceness could be at times, she loved it and the challenge of deciphering his veiled emotions. Her family always made their feelings plain, even when she was a girl. Brandon was different. His affection was so swift, so protective. What would it feel like to earn his full love?

Hannah shook her head to drive that thought off. She couldn’t sit here, daydreaming, in the middle of a call. “The bank took the check,” she assured him. “But something odd happened.”

“Yes?” Brandon stuck to the letter of his promise: he didn’t keep talking. Yet that one word was short and sharp, almost an order for her to hurry up and name the fool that dared to inconvenience her.

“Do you know a Stephen LeMar?”

He considered that question at length before answering. “No.”

“That is so odd! He definitely recognized your name.”

“Did he?” Brandon didn’t sound surprised. “I guess it’s not strange. I’m well known in, mmm, certain circles.” Hannah waited, but he didn’t explain what ‘circles’ those might be. “What did this LeMar character do?”

“He’s the president of C&L Enterprises.” Still no sign that any of this was familiar to Brandon. “He wants to buy our farm.”

“Is he threatening you?” Her guardian’s growl returned. “Trying to pressure you into selling? I can have a vicious weasel of a lawyer there by tomorrow morning if this LeMar is bothering you.”

“No. Well, he was, but he wasn’t threatening.” Not true in the least. But how could she explain that to Brandon? She couldn’t say that LeMar seemed cloaked in power, a cold, bitter reflection of the strength she’d felt in him. He would think her mad. “He just offered us more money.”

“I see.”

Now she felt like a fool. She’d called him over nothing. Over a silly flight of nerves that even she couldn’t explain.

Brandon wasn’t writing her off so quickly, though. “Hannah, there are reasons why a Shif…” He coughed. “Why someone in my social circles might want to possess your land. Very badly. Many people in my circles could also offer you a great deal of money, if you were interested. Which I know you are not,” he added quickly, as she started to protest.

Silence stretched. Just when she was about to apologize for wasting his time, he spoke again, voice soft. “This may sound like a very odd question. Did this Stephen LeMar remind you of anything? A person? An animal, even?”

A van pulled into the parking space behind her, its lights on bright. Hannah raised a hand to shield her eyes. “Actually, he did. He…” She thought of LeMar’s rugged handsomeness, the threat of anger and power he radiated. “He kind of reminded me of you. A really nasty version of you,” she added.

“There should not be anyone like me in Beverly.” The growl was back, stronger than ever. Hannah, however, had absolutely no idea what he meant by that. “Was there anything about him that stood out? Some mark woven into his clothes? An unusual ring? Anything?”

How did he know that?

The van door opened. Its light stayed on bright and she prayed the careless driver would remember to dim them. “He had a strange cufflink. Red stone. It had an image of a weird dragon on it. Looked like it was tearing its own wings off.”

“WHAT?”

Brandon’s roar of shock and outrage blasted through the phone, startling her so badly she nearly dropped her cell on the floor.

“Why are you upset? What does that mean?”

“Hannah, listen to me.” A fierce worry softened his words, though he ignored her questions. “You are in danger.”

Her mouth went dry. Some part of her mind scoffed at the warning. Danger? In Beverly, New York? He couldn’t be serious. Then she remembered LeMar’s eyes, his incandescent fury when she’d refused his offer. No, she believed Brandon. She didn’t understand his warning, but she didn’t doubt it.

“Get your family and get out of town. I will take care of this. Stay at a motel. Do not return until…”

Her door yanked open.

Beside her stood a large man dressed in motorcycle leathers. A cruel, wolfish face leered at her from beneath thick, matted hair. “Time to go, girl,” he said as he pressed a damp cloth to her face.

Hannah dropped her phone and grabbed his wrist, struggling to twist free. His hand never moved; it was like trying to bend an iron bar. Something sweet and rotten filled her lungs as she fought, clawing at him. Black clouds bubbled up at the edge of her vision, and the world around her faded out.

The last thing she heard as the darkness claimed her was Brandon’s voice, frantically shouting her name.