Chapter Six

She gasped. “What? Why?”

“Because he needs to get his ass back here and deal with whatever it is that’s going on with you.”

“But—” She bit off her protest when he pressed the phone to his ear. Folding her arms over her abdomen, she arched an eyebrow at him. “What are you going to tell him? That you don’t remember sleeping with me?”

Light glinted in his eyes and a muscle ticked along his jawline while he stared her down.

The seconds ticked away until finally he spoke. “Owen, call me. It’s about your sister.”

He disconnected and Prue threw her hands in the air. “Why did you do that? That’s going to freak him out.”

“I’m okay with that.”

“He can’t do anything to help me from the other side of the world.”

“Which is why he needs to come home.”

“No, he does not.” She shook her head, adamant. “I can handle this on my own.”

“You can handle what?”

Doubt constricted her throat and her protests jammed in the narrowing passageway. At dinner the previous night, Faith had tried again to convince Prue to stop investigating Aron King’s activities. In stating her case, Faith had utilized a range of biting remarks that left Prue feeling bashed and bruised.

Still a little raw, she wasn’t sure how well she’d endure another tongue-lashing. Especially one delivered by a former Marine.

She scratched a spot on the tip of her nose. “Uh, it’s complicated.”

His glittering green eyes held her captive. “Try me.”

“I was being targeted by some online trolls, but it’s over now. I’ve taken care of it.”

“How?”

“What is this, an interrogation?”

“I’m just getting started,” he said coolly.

“I deleted my accounts.” A sour taste flooded her mouth with the words. “No account, no trolls. Simple.”

“What about the person, or people, who broke into your car?”

She clenched her teeth against the upheaval his questioning stirred inside her.

“You know who did it, don’t you?” His unwavering gaze remained fixed on her face. “Do you also know who’s been threatening you online?”

“No. Well, not exactly,” she admitted. “But it doesn’t matter. They were just trying to scare me.”

“Oh, is that all?” The bite in his tone stung. “Intimidation, harassment. Shit, what’s a little aggravated felony when you need to make a point?”

Misery pressed down on her. Everyone was either against her or racked with worry. Or suspicious of her mental state. Her brother on the other side of the world was so concerned he’d sent a bodyguard from God knew where to deal with her. A bodyguard who was either neurotically jumpy or suffering some serious post-traumatic stress.

Her quest doomed, defeat clamped like a vise around her heart.

“Look, it worked, okay?” Her vision blurred with tears of frustration. “I’m done. I’m out. They win.”

Suspicion touched his features. “Are you just saying that to get rid of me?”

“No, it’s true.” Her shoulders sagged. “I can’t stand the thought of Owen worrying. My sister thinks I’m—”

“Your sister thinks you’re what?”

“Nothing. She wants me to back off, so that’s what I’m going to do.”

He studied her, his expression serious, and the urge to confess to crimes she’d never committed nearly overwhelmed her.

“Okay,” he said finally.

She released the breath she’d been holding.

Then, drawing her shoulders back, she gave a firm nod. “Okay.”

Her heart in her throat, she reached for her car door, but his body blocked her from pulling it open. When he refused to yield ground to her, her startled gaze flew to his face.

The breath snagged in her lungs to see the lean restlessness lurking in him, just under the surface. An electrical charge arced between them and for a moment, she wanted to draw back, away from the danger, but the look on his face wouldn’t let her move. It was as if he hadn’t had enough to eat, or enough sleep, and suddenly all she wanted to do was reach out and touch him. Maybe stroke the side of his face or press a kiss to the lines of sorrow bracketing his eyes and mouth.

Of course, she didn’t do any of those ridiculous things.

When she found her voice, she spoke to his shirtfront. “Thanks for trying to help.” Then she risked one last glimpse into his eyes. “Goodbye, Leo.”

Yanking open the door, her legs gave out and she collapsed in the driver seat.

As she drove from the parking lot, she refused to glance in the rearview mirror, certain that if she had to watch Leo Nolan disappear from her life again, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her tears.

Naturally, he followed her home.

It was his duty to do so, but also, he knew she was hurting. The truth was stamped plainly on her face.

But why? Fear he could understand, but why so much hurt?

It didn’t matter, he supposed. At least she’d agreed to walk away from whatever trouble had been drawing near.

She was sensible. Smart. He admired her for that.

From his spot parked under the oak tree, he watched her water and care for her plants before disappearing indoors. Later that evening, she reemerged, a book in hand, and settled in the lone deck chair. He’d never been so entertained watching someone read.

So much so, he frowned when his cell phone vibrated on the console, wrenching his attention from her.

With a tap on the screen, he accepted Owen’s call. “What the hell, man? You said she was fragile.”

Owen’s soft laughter rumbled over the connection. “She’s my kid sister. What can I say?”

Leo bit down on his tongue. There was nothing childlike about her. It probably wouldn’t be wise to inform his friend that his “kid sister” had a hot ass and a mouth more luscious than a succulent peach. Yeah, that’d be weird. And possibly life-ending.

“What did you find out?” Owen asked.

Leo filled him in on the details, minus the one rather significant fact of their hookup. Once Owen was back in the States and safe, Leo would find a way to tell his friend that he’d defiled his baby sister.

“You think the break-in is related?”

“I don’t know, but she seems to think it is.” On the balcony, Prue stretched out her long legs and propped her bare feet atop the railing. An image of those legs wrapped around his naked waist knocked into Leo with enough force that for a moment he struggled to regain his focus. “Any idea what she did that riled up the Twitter crazies?”

“None,” Owen said. “When I saw the threats and asked her about them, her reaction let me know something was up.”

“Well, she’s taken down her accounts now.”

“Good, that’s good. When I’m done here I’ll head straight for Boston.”

“Where are you, anyway?” Leo didn’t know why he asked. He didn’t care.

“Ukraine. We’re guarding a diplomatic envoy that’s here through the end of the month. Hopefully Prue can sit tight for the next two weeks.”

Leo was unable to tear his gaze away from her and the long length of her smooth legs when he said, “I’ll keep an eye on things until then.”

“You’ve done enough already,” Owen said. “I owe you one.”

Leo would be sure to bring that up when Owen found out the truth about the night Leo met Prue in that hotel bar.

“I don’t mind.”

“Honestly, it’s not going to be necessary.” A hint of humor infected Owen’s voice.

“What makes you say that?”

“I got a call from my dad last night. He was upset because my mom is upset, because she talked to my other sister, who told her Prue has a stalker, and what the hell am I going to do about it anyway?” Owen chuckled softly. “Something tells me Prue’s going to be well guarded until I get back.”

As he disconnected the call, a splash of fading sunlight washed her in its golden warmth.

He was off the hook. If he wanted, he could drive back to the hotel, pack his bag, and leave town that night.

Still, he remained parked outside her apartment until she retreated indoors and, a few hours later, her bedroom light winked out. He then completed a neighborhood recon and, back behind the wheel of his car, maneuvered the vehicle through the darkened city streets.

He’d fulfilled his duty to his friend. His conscience was as clear as a cloudless sky.

So why did he feel so damned dark and gloomy?