Chapter Three
The Cleaner was furious. He could barely contain his anger. How dare she have someone answer the telephone? And who was this asshole, anyway? She never had men at her house. In all the times he’d called her, he was certain she’d been alone. And since he’d been in San Antonio, he’d always seen her alone. So where had this man come from who spoke so arrogantly and rudely to him?
Surely he wasn’t someone with a personal interest in her. Didn’t he know what she was? He’d have to do something about that. A woman with a heart that black, who practiced the skills of the devil, should not have a mate. She might produce spawn who would be just as evil. And she could destroy the unsuspecting mate at the same time.
And where had this guy come from all of a sudden? And what gave him the right to answer her phone? To talk to him that way? The Cleaner wanted to bang his head in frustration. Except that his head already hurt so badly he could barely stand it. The pain had escalated the moment the man answered the phone. And now the she-devil wasn’t answering it at all.
He’d thought for sure by this time she’d have stopped casting her spells. He’d had to forget about sending any more letters. Too chancy. There was always the possibility he’d somehow left a tiny bit of DNA and someone would find it. He was sure, after all, that she’d turned the notes over to the cops.
So then he’d focused strictly on the phone calls, hoping to frighten her enough that she stopped taking patients. Patients! That was a laugh. Victims, more likely. But nothing seemed to discourage her. Now even those had been effectively cut off. She wasn’t even answering the phone any more.
Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!
He’d have to get rid of her. That was the only thing to do.
But how? That was the problem.
He dug his knuckles into his pounding temples. He needed his prescription pills, but if he called a pharmacy they would be able to find out where he was. He was always so slick, getting away from them. Just fly under their radar, and when they were lulled into a false sense of security, ease away.
His parents had a false idea that they could somehow control him. What a joke that was. And how easy it was to fool them. He’d perfected that technique after years in that overpriced prison they’d stuck him in, where he’d discovered finally how to fool the doctors into releasing him. Home at last, only to discover his sister dying and medicine unable to help her.
He would help her and win praise from his parents.
Everyone was so pleased at how he lavished attention on Cindy and fetched things for her as she lay in her bed, too sick to get up. They praised him for taking care of her the way he did, for spending so much time with her. And of course, being the center of attention, he was on his best behavior. Everything would have been fine if his parents hadn’t brought in that bitch to work her black magic on his sister. That she-devil. Suddenly, he was no longer important. No longer necessary. Everyone was focused was on Cindy’s miraculous recovery and what they could do for her now.
He never should have let his anger get the best of him, but when they had asked the witch if she could help him, his control had snapped and triggered an emotional explosion for him. What an insult that was. They’d wrung their hands when she said that was outside of her field of expertise.
He’d gotten himself under control, put on a good show for them before they could ship him off to the doctors again, and then just slipped out of sight. They’d never miss him. Bitterly, he realized they were probably glad to get rid of him.
They had tried to block his access to the trust fund his grandparents had set up for him, but he knew just how to twist the old folks around his finger. He could put on a good act when he wanted something. They had no idea he’d bought a car that he kept stored in a rental garage for just such an occasion. Oh, it was in his name. No way around that. But they’d never think to look for it. They didn’t even know he could drive. He wasn’t sure they’d even bother to look for him. Good riddance, he imagined them saying.
He didn’t need healing anyway. He was perfectly fine. It was everyone else that was wrong. And he’d be even better when he finally rid the world of this bitch. When he was safe again.
Grabbing a handful of acetaminophen, he tossed the tablets in his mouth and washed them down with a glass of water. Then he lay down on the couch, ice pack on his forehead, and lulled himself to sleep, imagining how it would be at the end when she knew she’d finally met her destiny.
Summer leaned back in her chair and rubbed her stomach dramatically.
“I don’t think I could stuff another bite into my body with a shoehorn.” She sighed. “But it sure was good.”
Troy chuckled. “Just pizza and wine. Nothing fancy.” He’d stopped to pick it up on his way back from fetching his clothes at the Hallorans. Mark had hung out with her while Troy was gone so she wouldn’t be alone.
“But it was delicious pizza,” she protested. “And it really hit the spot after today.”
Her house had been filled with men—both Phoenix agents and security-alarm installers—until well past five o’clock. But she now had a system she was sure outdid anything the FBI or Secret Service could come up with. It included the cameras Dan had told her about and the new laptop sitting on her desk next to her Mac. They’d also switched out all her phones and replaced her answering machine with something no bigger than a deck of playing cards. Then they’d turned off the ringers on all the landline instruments.
“Use your cell phone for all your calls,” Troy reminded her. “That way you can still keep in touch with the people you need to without this nut interfering.”
At the moment, she didn’t feel much like returning calls to anyone or doing any work, but she’d have to get to it sooner rather than later. Her clients wouldn’t hang around waiting for her to get her act together.
“We also set a trap and trace on your line,” Dan continued. “We’ll find him, I promise you. And having all his calls on the recorder we set up will make it hard for him to weasel out of this.”
“I keep hoping he’ll get tired of calling and just give up.”
“Men like him seldom do. It’s how they’re hardwired, and their obsession becomes the focus of their lives. But we’ll find him and take him down.”
She hadn’t been able to get any work done on her web design business. All the men in her house, plus the craziness of the situation, left her distracted and unable to concentrate. Tomorrow she’d get back to work, occupy her mind with something useful. Besides, she had deadlines that she couldn’t just ignore.
With her house finally empty of everyone else and the security system fully armed, it was just the two of them sitting in the kitchen, talking about this and that while they ate. Troy talked about his life as a medic with the SEALs, and Summer told him how she’d gotten into the web design and graphics business. But the food was gone now, they’d made a serious dent in the bottle of wine, and the sudden silence was so thick it was almost palpable. Summer was doing her best to be casual, but it was hard to ignore the electricity crackling and sizzling between them.
I wish I had more practice at this.
To break the tension between them, she rose and gathered their dishes from the table, carrying them to the sink. When she turned around Troy was right behind her, holding the wineglasses. He set them on the counter but kept his hands leaning on the granite, effectively caging her with his arms. His face was inches from hers.
“Summer.” His voice was casual, but the look he gave her wasn’t. “I’m about to step over a line here, and if I’m making a mistake, feel free to tell me. Even ask me to leave. Mark can get someone else to stay here. Someone less . . . instantly attracted to you. Not to mention how unprofessional this is, and I consider myself a professional at all times.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand. What do you mean?”
“I mean, first and foremost I make it a rule never to mix business and pleasure.” His voice was raspy. “It can lead to all sorts of pitfalls. I’m here to see to your safety. But . . .” His voice trailed off, and his gaze locked with hers as if he wanted to see some unspoken answer there.
“That’s a good policy.” Summer’s throat was so dry she was surprised she could get the words out at all. Her experience with men was limited—by her own choice—and she was stunned at the high voltage arcing between them. They’d just met, for God’s sake. She hadn’t been with many men, not being one to leave herself open to strong emotional connections. As a sensitive, her emotions always lay raw just beneath the surface, and to survive she had to keep them tightly leashed. She’d made poor choices in the men she’d been with, but none of those had instantly electrified her the way Troy Arsenault did.
“Which I’ve always been able to stick to.” He was so close his breath fanned warmly on her face. “But somehow with you”—he gave a small shrug—“my good intentions and personal discipline have gone to shit. I don’t know what it is that hit me, Summer, but I can sense that you feel it, too.”
Oh yes. More than feel it. Need it. Want it.
Her pulse throbbed insistently everywhere in her body.
“I don’t want Faith and Mark handing me my head,” he went on. “They’re trusting me with you. I don’t want them—or you—to think I’m abusing that trust. So if I’m wrong about this . . . connection . . . exploding between us, now’s the time to tell me.”
Summer wet her lips.
Do it!
She was so over her head here. Men like Troy just weren’t ever attracted to her. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure he could hear it.
“No.” She wet her lips. “You’re not wrong.”
“I can’t forget we’re in a serious situation here,” he reminded her. “The media bloodhounds are after you, and your life could be in danger. I’m here to guard your body, not take advantage of it.”
Is he backing off? Does he feel something, but he’s putting it on hold? I might lose my courage by the time he finally gets around to it.
She hoped that outwardly she appeared calm, but inside she was shaking with nerves and anticipation. Did he want her to tell him to stop or to let him know she wanted whatever came next? Whatever that was.
She gave him a tentative smile. “Are you trying to convince me of something or talk me out of it?”
“Just making absolutely sure we’re on the same page here. I’ll be honest with you. This is different from anything I’ve ever felt for another woman. A lot more than simple sexual attraction. God.” He ran his hand over his hair. “Maybe I should just leave. Period.”
“Yes,” she said in a soft voice, even as she wondered how it was possible for this feeling, this connection, to blossom so quickly. She guarded her emotions carefully out of necessity. If she made a wrong decision, it could thrust her into an emotional turmoil that would affect her skills and abilities.
“Yes, what?” he frowned at her. “Leave?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Stay.”
“I don’t want to pressure you into something you don’t want to do,” he told her. “It’s important for you to know that’s not my style.” He blew out a breath. “To tell the truth, this whole thing has kind of blindsided me. And it’s happened so fast.”
“Yes. You’re right.” She studied his face, searching for some kind of answers. “I haven’t let myself open up to the possibility of any kind of relationship in what seems like forever. Someone with my . . . gifts has a hard time trusting a relationship. With the wrong person it can be destructive. But . . .” Summer let out a shuddering sigh.
“But?” he prompted.
“I want . . . this. Whatever this is. Is it wrong for me to do this so quickly? We’ve hardly known each other for twenty-four hours.”
Troy caressed her cheek with the knuckles of one hand. “You know, although Mark and Faith knew each other for years, Dan and Mia met on assignment, as did Rick and Kelly. It only took them twenty-four hours to know what was happening between them. Mike and Kat had a history but reconnected after two years and in less than a day were solid together. Maybe there’s a spell someone’s cast over Phoenix, so who am I to argue with it?”
“Maybe you’re right.” Her eyes were still glued to his face.
“I swear I will never do anything to hurt you or damage your gifts.” His look was dead serious. “Believe me, I understand what’s at stake. But I don’t want to lose what I sense is happening between us.”
She gave a soft little laugh. “They say danger telescopes life, accelerates situations. Maybe that’s what’s happening here.”
“I definitely hope so.”
Troy leaned down so his lips brushed softly over hers, back and forth, the touch as light as an angel’s kiss. Summer tilted her head back, wanting him to increase the pressure. At her silent invitation, he drew the tip of his tongue along the seam of her lips, again soft as a breeze, the touch coaxing and enticing. When she parted her lips, his tongue slipped inside, sliding across hers in a silken glide. Every nerve inside her mouth popped like Fourth-of-July firecrackers, creating heat that surged downward through her body.
And he hadn’t touched anything but her mouth.
She moaned lightly, and Troy moved his hands from the counter to slide them up her arms. When he finally broke the kiss, his mouth was still less than an inch from hers, and his breath was a warm breeze on her lips. Summer couldn’t move, almost couldn’t breathe. His hands moved from her arms to her shoulders, then his fingers slid gently up the column of her neck to cup her cheeks.
She shivered at his touch, pressing her hands against the hard wall of his chest. She could feel the hard pebbles of his nipples through the thin fabric of his shirt, and the heat of his body nearly singed her skin.
He licked her lips with a gentle stroke, his eyes burning into hers.
“I don’t want to do this standing up,” he told her in a voice rough with passion. “You deserve better than that. Besides, I don’t want to rush this. I want to take my time with you.”
“Yes. Please.” She was so mesmerized by him she couldn’t move.
He cleared his throat. “Stay right here. I’ll be right back. I just want to check the system feed.”
Summer closed her eyes and leaned back against the counter, wondering whether she had lost her mind. But if she had, she didn’t want to find it until she satisfied the cravings that had taken hold of her body.
“All set.”
His voice startled her, but not as much as when he swept her easily into his arms and headed for the stairs. Thanks to the security work that had been in process all day, she didn’t even need to tell him which bedroom was hers. She simply curled herself into his body and inhaled his spicy, musky male fragrance. Her pulse points throbbed in anticipation, and already her sex was swollen and wet. She certainly couldn’t remember the last time—if ever—a man had aroused her to this state. And he hadn’t done anything yet except kiss her.
The sun had set for the day, and outside darkness was descending, so as they entered her bedroom Troy hit the wall switch with his elbow. Immediately, the light on her nightstand came to life and cast a warm amber glow over everything. He set her on the floor beside the bed, took a moment to sweep the covers back, then proceeded to undress her with exquisite care.
As he unveiled each part of her, appreciation and desire lit his eyes. Her T-shirt went first, pulled slowly over her head with fingers that she saw were just the tiniest bit unsteady. After tossing it to the side, he took a long moment to stare at her breasts cradled in satin and lace. Summer was glad that the lingerie she’d grabbed in a hurry that morning wasn’t the sturdy cotton kind she usually wore when home alone.
He couldn’t seem to drag his eyes away from her breasts, lifting his hands to rub his thumbs against her dusky nipples. Through the flimsy material of her bra, she felt the rasping touch against buds now peaked and sensitive. He moved his thumbs back and forth in a slow, steady motion for what seemed like a very long time. The pulse throbbed inside her, and liquid soaked her panties. And the look in Troy’s eyes was that of a very hungry man.
He bent his head to run his tongue over the upper swell of her breasts, sending threads of sensation wriggling through her and making her weak in the knees. She gripped his upper arms to steady herself, vaguely aware of the hard sinew of muscle beneath the skin. Troy continued to lave the curve of her breasts until every inch of them burned and ached.
Next came her jeans, first the pop of the button, then the slow glide of the zipper. He knelt to ease the denim down her thighs to her ankles, lifting her feet one at a time to free them from the pool of fabric. Pressing his face to the triangle of silk covering her pubic curls, he inhaled deeply, and a sound almost like a growl rumbled up from his chest. When he drew a line with his tongue the length of her slit, she had to grab his shoulders to keep from falling to the floor.
Unerringly, he found her clit through the fabric with the tip of his tongue, pressing it against the nub. His large hands gripped the cheeks of her ass and rocked her back and forth against his mouth. She realized with a shock the keening sound in the air came from her, a sharp wail of sexual need.
The slide of sheer fabric against her skin as he eased her out of her bra and panties made every nerve spark and heated the surface of her skin. She wanted to tell him to hurry, but all she could do was moan with pleasure.
Finally, Troy rose to his feet, lifted her to the bed, and placed her so every part of her was exposed to him. His gaze on her mound and breasts was a caress she could almost feel. Unused to a man studying her naked body so intensely, she had to stifle a need to cover herself with her hands. But his eyes never left her while he kicked off his shoes and shed his clothing.
He reached down for his jeans, pulled his wallet from his back pocket, and lifted a foil packet that he dropped onto the nightstand.
“I’m a Boy Scout,” he grinned. “Always prepared.”
Her eyes widened as she took in his naked body for the first time. He could have been a statue sculpted from marble, every muscle was so clearly defined. But the perfection of marble was marred by a thin, white scar that ran diagonally from his collarbone to his right nipple, and another that bisected his upper right arm. She would have dwelled on them further, but her eyes were drawn magnetically across the thick scattering of hair on his chest down his flat abs to the heavy swollen cock jutting from a nest of dark gold curls.
Her fingers flexed with the need to reach for him and wind themselves around that thick shaft. Troy smiled as if he could read her mind.
“Go ahead.” His voice was a scraping sound. “You can touch it. I want you to touch it. Please.”
He stood close enough to the bed that his knees bumped up against it. Summer rolled to her side so she could lean on one elbow and reached out with her other hand. He was hot and pulsing in her grasp, the head of his cock a deep plum color, glistening with the drop of precum poised at the top. She rubbed her thumb over it, spreading it over the velvet skin, her mouth eager to taste it.
Twice a man she’d been with had wanted her to do that, but each time she’d refused. Now she realized it was because the intense connection she had with Troy hadn’t been there, the powerful connection that stretched beyond physical attraction. She not only wanted his dick in her mouth but also wanted to taste every inch of his body. Much, she assumed, as he wanted to taste hers.
Tentatively, she stuck out her tongue and lapped at the soft skin, humming with pleasure at the musky taste. Her lips closed automatically over the head and moved slowly down the soft skin stretched over hard steel. Summer closed her eyes, heat blossoming everywhere in her body as Troy’s hard cock filled her mouth and his scent filled her nostrils.
His fingers threaded through her hair, holding her head in place as she licked and tasted him. Then abruptly he pulled back, his shaft sliding from her mouth.
Summer looked up at him, bewildered. “What—”
“One more thrust in that tempting mouth of yours, and it will be all over before it starts. And I plan for this to last longer than five minutes.”
He knelt on the bed between her legs, nudging her thighs further apart, his eyes devouring her swollen flesh. But it was her mouth he touched first, burning it with a scorching kiss, his tongue plundering, licking the inner surface, leaving sparks wherever it danced. Summer could barely catch her breath, sliding her hands through his thick hair and anchoring herself.
When he finally broke the kiss, he slid his mouth along her cheek and trailed kisses down to her jawline, nipping the soft flesh then soothing it with his tongue. Each tiny bite sent showers of sparks dancing through her. His tongue was a wet flame, licking the tender spot behind her ear and tracing a line along the column of her neck. Summer pressed her body against his, wanting to imprint herself on him.
“I want to taste you everywhere,” he murmured.
His hands moved along her shoulder and down her arms as he shifted lower to give his mouth access to her breasts. When his lips closed over one nipple, she felt the tug and the wet heat straight to where her pulse throbbed in response. He took his time, laving then pulling at each nipple until the pain was so exquisite she cried out at the pleasure.
“Ohhhh.” The sigh escaped her as he moved lower on her body, licking and kissing his way down her tummy, swirling his tongue in the flesh of her navel.
When he moved even lower, his hands gripping her hips, she automatically arched up to him. He put his mouth directly on her clit and sucked, hard, and every muscle in her body quivered in response.
When he lifted his head for a moment, her juices glistened on his lips. “You taste so damn good, Summer. Just so damn good.”
Again he used his teeth, just the lightest of nips, tugging on the hot nub even as his tongue flicked back and forth across the tip. Summer spread her legs wider and lifted her hips again, wanting more from him. She was so swollen and wet and aching for him. No other man had ever drawn this heated response from her body or roused her to such a degree.
His mouth moved over the lips of her sex, his tongue licking up one side and down the other, then returning to her clit to torment her even more. She could do little more than anchor herself again with her hands gripping his hair and ride out the waves of pleasure crashing through her. When he finally thrust his tongue inside her, his thumbs pressing together on her clit, her climax slammed through her like a wall of water. Her entire body shook and trembled. Troy was right there, riding her through it, pushing her, fucking her with his tongue and rubbing her swollen nub rhythmically.
The aftershocks were still rippling through her when he reached for the condom, rolled it onto his cock efficiently, and slid his hands beneath her buttocks to lift her to him. The tip of his shaft probed at her entrance and pushed in a little. Then a little more. It had been a long time since she’d last had sex, and she was aware just how tight she was. But Troy moved slowly, easing himself into her. She took him in a little at a time until with one last swift thrust he was inside her, filling her, stretching her. He paused, giving her time to adjust to him, balancing himself on his forearms and studying her face.
“Open your eyes,” he growled. “Look at me, Summer.”
When she stared into his eyes, she saw such a depth of feeling that it stunned her. How was this possible, for something like this to happen so fast? To her especially, who had always been an oddity to the men she dated. She’d seen curiosity of varying degrees, but never real interest in her as a person. As a woman. Yet here she was with Troy, less than twenty-four hours after meeting him, enjoying incredible sex and feeling as if they’d been connected forever. And seeing that same feeling echoed back in his eyes.
When he lowered his head and ground his mouth against hers, slipping in his tongue, she tasted herself on him, his flavor mingled with hers. Then, as if he’d been waiting for some signal from her, he began to move, slowly at first, then faster, driving into her so that the tip of his cock touched the mouth of her womb. Summer wound her legs around his waist and dug her heels into the small of his back, lifting herself to him as much as she could, riding the storm of pleasure surging thorough her. Her hands moved over his back, feeling the warm skin over taut, hard muscles.
Everything inside her unwound at a dizzying speed, surging through her body until she came apart. Seconds after her climax hit she felt Troy stiffen, then his cock pulsed furiously inside her. Her inner muscles clamped down on him, spasming over and over, fireworks exploding behind her eyelids in vivid shades of purple and red and green. She was falling through space, locked in a sensual dance with this man who touched her inner core.
At some point, a semblance of sanity returned. Her body still trembled with a combination of exhaustion and satisfaction, and she wasn’t sure whose heart she felt pounding, hers or Troy’s. He moved his head enough to press light kisses on her cheeks, her neck, and the upper swell of her breasts before sliding from her body and heading for the bathroom to dispose of the condom. Then he was back in bed next to her, cradling her against his body spoon-fashion. One hand cupped a breast, a finger lazily teasing a nipple. The other brushed lightly along the curve of her hip then settled on her stomach. His cock, at half-mast now, pressed against the crevice of her ass.
Neither of them said a word. Finally, Troy broke the silence.
“Just so you know, this isn’t quick sex because I’m horny and you’re handy.” His voice sounded rusty. “It’s important that you really understand that.”
She had to clear her throat twice before she could respond. “I do. I-I have to say doing . . . this isn’t usual for me at all.”
His chuckle rumbled in his chest and vibrated against her back. “I get it, honey. I like to think I’m good at reading people, and no way would I think that of you.” He let out a slow breath. “I don’t know what this is, Summer. I’ve kind of cruised through life, focusing first on the SEALs and now on Phoenix. I always figured I’d have plenty of time to look for a serious relationship.” He laughed again. “I guess Dan and Rick probably said the same thing, and look at them now.”
“Mark and Faith have known each other forever,” she reminded him. “But it took his being in danger and her being determined to save him before they finally realized what they had.”
“I don’t want to wait as long as they did. Or be like Mike and Kat, who had to reconnect after a long time. Like I said, this is sudden but it’s very real.” He kissed her shoulder. “You feel the same way, right?”
She nodded. “But it scares me.”
His arms tightened around her. “In what way?”
She was careful with her words. “I’m . . . not like other people, Troy. What if I disappoint you? What if you suddenly can’t deal with my gift? What if you even come to resent it?”
“Hush.” His lips were right at her ear. “I told you I learned a lot about psychic healers, and I have a healthy respect for your ability. Besides, I was a medic in the SEALs, and I still keep up my training. So maybe there will even be times when we work in tandem. But most importantly, I may not have known you long, but I feel right in my gut that you could never disappoint me. Let’s keep exploring what’s going on here. When we get this crisis handled, we can talk about our future. Because we definitely have a future. Okay?”
Summer’s lips curved into a smile, even though he couldn’t see it. “Works for me.”
They woke early the next morning and made lazy love with the colors of dawn slanting in through the blinds. With the first frenzy of need satisfied, they took their time exploring each other’s bodies, learning each other’s needs.
Do you like this?
Does it feel good when I touch you here?
When at long last Troy sheathed himself and slid his cock slowly into her body, her inner walls closed so tightly around him it took his breath away. He held himself in place, just enjoying the intensity of the sensation. When he began to move, it was with slow, deliberate strokes. He locked his gaze with hers, watching her, seeing the signs on her face and in her eyes as she moved closer and closer to release. Feeling the slickness of her as her hips moved with him.
When they came together, the orgasm rushed through them, both of them shaking, her arms firmly around his neck. Her legs were wrapped around his hips, heels digging into the small of his back to keep him locked to her as tightly as possible. And each throb of pleasure, each spasm, rocketed through them as if they were one single unit.
He kissed her softly as they came down from the high, touching her lips, her cheeks, her forehead, before easing from her to dispose of the condom. After that they dozed comfortably in each other’s arms before showering and dressing. Summer went into the kitchen to start breakfast. Coffee first, to give them both their first caffeine fix for the day. She poured a mug for Troy to take into her office with him while he checked the answering machine and the camera feeds.
There were a number of calls, some from the night before, but most from that day.
People get up damn early to start their harassing.
Only a few were from the stalker. He wanted to think maybe the man was winding down again, but his experience had taught him better. It was possible he was just getting his second wind. There were a few personal calls that he jotted down to give to Summer. The rest were from every type of media in existence, and they seemed to have overdosed on persistence. He was just about to exchange the SIM card so he could hand it off to Dan later when the doorbell rang.
Summer came out of the kitchen holding a dishtowel, her face lined with tension.
Troy held up his hand. “Let me. You stay where they can’t even get a glimpse of you.”
One of the first things he’d insisted on the day before was closing the shutters in the kitchen so people couldn’t see in. He’d also closed the door to the tiny mudroom that gave access to the rear entrance. Now he waited until Summer retreated into the living room before heading to the foyer, the insistent sound of the doorbell clanging in his ears. He checked the feed on the computer and saw only one person standing there. But the cameras also showed a small crowd gathering at the curb again—two news vans and three or four cars. At the moment, no one had emerged from them, but Troy was prepared if and when they did.
He left the safety chain on when he opened the door just enough to talk through.
“What?” He made his tone as hostile as possible.
The man standing there in jeans and a button-down shirt held up a business card.
“Dan Jenkins. I’m with a magazine. Psychic Journeys. We’d very much like to do a feature on Miss Cahill.”
“Not interested.”
Troy tried to close the door, but the persistent ass had stuck his foot in the opening.
“Someone’s going to do this story,” he said. “And it probably won’t be very flattering. We’d do it with skill and care.”
“The answer’s still no. Miss Cahill won’t be giving any interviews at all. You might want to pass the word. And you’d better get your foot out of the door before it gets broken.”
Jenkins pulled his foot back, but he wasn’t happy. Troy pulled his cell from his pocket and pushed the speed dial for Dan.
“Reinforcements,” he said. “Now.”
“On our way,” Dan told him.
“Who was that?” Summer wanted to know when he walked into the kitchen, her voice firm.
Underneath the fear and apprehension, there was a core of steel that he couldn’t help but admire. His girl was no pushover.
His girl?
Well, yes, dumbass. You certainly staked your claim last night and made no bones about it.
He’d been so footloose where women were concerned that his partners had warned him that when he fell, it would be hard and instantaneous. They were certainly right about that. He felt as if a truck had rolled over him. But in a good way. And every one of his married partners had somehow conducted their romance in the midst of a dangerous situation. Maybe it was just a pattern for the men of Phoenix.
Even more quickly than Mia and Dan, they had skipped the getting-to-know-you part and gone straight from hello to extraordinary sex. They needed to learn about each other, and that might be the tricky part. Troy was not at all used to giving people pieces of himself, except for his partners, and he had the feeling Summer had the same reticence. He’d have to move even more carefully in this area, but he was determined to know all about her. Everything. Because he knew with an unexpected certainty she was the woman he wanted to share his life with.
Getting there would take a careful touch.
He just hoped in the light of day Summer didn’t have a change of heart.
Now she studied him, waiting for his answer. He hated the anxiety that lined her face. Hated that she had to go through this at all. What he really wanted to do was scoop her up and take her far away until this died down again, but he knew she’d never agree to that. Instead, he settled for giving her a quick-but-hard kiss on the lips.
“A reporter from Psychic Journeys. He wanted to do a story on you.”
Summer shook her head. “I know the magazine. It has a good reputation, but I don’t want the notoriety. It would be like advertising myself, something I don’t want to do. My clients come to me through referrals or people who know of me, and that’s as much as I can handle.”
“Have you ever thought about doing this full time?”
She shook her head again. “First of all, I’d have to give up my regular business, so I’d have to charge people, which I don’t want to do. Secondly, successful healing takes a lot out of me physically. I don’t think my body could stand it on a regular basis.”
“I’d like to watch you sometime. If you’d let me, that is.”
She smiled at him. “Of course. I want you to see what I do.”
He brushed another kiss over her mouth. “Dan and Mark will be here shortly. The mob outside is smaller today. But the day is young, and we may need some reinforcements. They’ll assess the situation and see who we need to call in.”
“You mean like guards?” Summer frowned. “I thought with the security system and cameras and all we wouldn’t need it.”
“And maybe we won’t. But it never hurts to be prepared. Now.” He brushed his knuckle against the soft skin of her cheek. “Is there any more of that really good coffee you made?”
“As much as you want.” She took his mug and turned to fill it from the pot. “Do we have time for breakfast?”
“We’ll make time.”
He took the mug from her, their fingers brushing, and the sparks shot through him, more electric than ever.
“I’m going to check the video from last night. Everything’s saved to a disk, and we can erase whatever is useless.” He needed to have some space from her to get his act together before his partners arrived, although he didn’t know how they could miss what was going on. He was more worried about Mark’s reaction. He and Faith were Summer’s good friends. Would he approve or think Troy had taken advantage?
“I’ll call you when everything’s ready,” Summer told him.
At the knock on his door, Olberman swiveled in his desk chair.
“Come.”
Reid McFadden, the man some called his chief henchman, walked in and shut the door.
“Vivian said you wanted to see me?”
Olberman nodded. “I have a situation for you to check out.” He slid a folder across the desk for the man to pick up. “Take a moment to read this, and I’ll explain what I need.”
McFadden sat in one of the big leather chairs facing the desk and read the documents in the folder carefully. When he was finished, he looked up.
“Do you want me to check out the woman or the patient in the hospital?”
“The patient first. Vivian tells me he has pneumonia and none of the medications are helping. Complications have developed. His insurance has run out, and he and his wife are not sure what they are going to do.”
“And this is important because . . .”
“Because I want to make sure this Summer Cahill is the real deal.” He paused to light a cigar, then put it in the smokeless ashtray Vivian insisted he use. “I see a good source of income if I can take possession of her.” His smile was more smug than humorous. “Think of all the wealthy people in the world who have incurable diseases, not to mention their families. How much do you think they’d pay for a cure? Millions. Perhaps in some cases even billions. But first I want to make sure the stories about her are real.”
He knew there were some who would ask how much money is enough, but for him the answer was . . . no answer. There would never be enough. Money was power, and he ate power like a starved animal.
McFadden lifted an eyebrow. “And I assume this patient”—he looked down at the folder—“Clark Hauser is part of that plan?”
Olberman nodded. “He is. I chose him over others because he’s in a San Antonio hospital. The Cahill woman lives there and rarely travels. This should be convenient for her. I want you to go there. Use one of the jets and take Fred Bonner with you. Contact the wife. Offer her five hundred thousand dollars, no strings attached, if she will call Summer Cahill and beg her to come heal her husband.”
“Why do we need to offer that much? Or anything? Can’t we just plant the seed and give her the idea to call the woman?”
“No. Vivian says she’s beside herself, trying to figure out how to pay her husband’s medical bills. This will take care of that and more. Tell her a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous wants to help.” He flicked an ash into the receptacle. “But there is to be no mention of this to anyone. And she must ask the Cahill woman to arrive secretly to avoid the media.”
McFadden snorted. “Exactly how is she supposed to do that? From what I saw on television the other day, they’re practically camped out on her lawn.”
“If she’s smart, she’ll find a way. Tell Mrs. Hauser to plead her case successfully if she wants the money.”
“All right.” The other man rose from the chair. “I’ll get hold of Bonner and tell him we’re taking a little trip.”
“I expect you to be successful,” Olberman warned.
McFadden gave him a smile that was definitely not humorous. “Aren’t I always?”
“There will be another nice bonus for you this time, so be sure you succeed.”
“No problem.”
When the door had closed behind him, Olberman turned to look out at the grounds surrounding the house again, and the mountains in the distance. Yes, this would be a perfect place to set Summer Cahill up for as long as her powers lasted. Out of reach of anyone but those he sold her services to.