––––––––

Cole was ready for battle.

Standing with his legs apart and arms crossed, he waited in the middle of the small living room for Tornado Tess to come out and wreck his mind.

She stepped from the bedroom wearing her pants from last night and another of his T-shirts. No makeup and hair pulled up in one of those magical buns women created with nothing but a clip, showcasing her high cheeks and smooth skin.

In this case, the clip was her mother’s barrette he’d found. That had to be worth some brownie points.

She cocked up her chin. “Now, we can have a conversation.”

“You mean now that you’ve got your armor in place you’re ready to do battle?”

“What armor?”

Shaking his head, he got down to business. “You can’t go back to Spartanburg today.”

“You expect me to just wait here and do nothing?”

“No. I’m not expecting anything. I’m asking you to work with me on this.” He unfolded his arms and walked over to her and held out a plain looking mobile phone. “This is a burner phone. It can’t be traced. You can call in and find out what’s going on at work. I’d appreciate it if you did not tell anyone where you are.”

She twisted her mouth and chewed on one side. That was the best sign he could get, because it meant she was considering a counterproposal.

He wanted to end negotiations before she had time to think it all through. “I’ll be back in three, maybe four hours. That’s all I’m asking. If you need to go to work after that, I’ll figure something out, but it’s Saturday. Surely you can beg off one day, even a weekend.”

More logic for her to work through.

Time to close the deal. Cole said, “If you tell anyone where you are, you’ll get me hauled in to face extreme discipline.”

Her fear hit him so hard he hated that he’d shaded the truth a bit on that one.

She shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

“Please don’t ask me to tell you more than I have.”

Her face softened. There was the compassion he’d hoped for because he hadn’t shaded the truth too much.

“Just a short time, okay?” Cole asked, trying to get her agreement.

She crossed her arms. “Here’s my offer.”

Had he really thought he was going to convince this woman to stay out of the way or actually get cooperation? “What?”

“You take me to my apartment where I have excellent security.”

“I got past them,” he pointed out, reminding her it was dangerous to underestimate shifters.

“But that’s because you and your team have superpowers, right? If I’m not available for my office to courier files to, they will become very suspicious. I’ve agreed to keep your secrets, but to do that I need you to work with me. Also, if my father comes into town again he’ll want me to either meet him or to come see me.”

He could come up with a half dozen ways others could get into the building, but that wasn’t what had him thinking twice. This home was well hidden in the woods, but he kept assuming he’d be back no matter what.

If the Black River pack got their claws on him, she’d be more vulnerable out here alone if they had any way to figure out where she’d gone.

Miss Smarty Pants was staring him down with a look that said she had won her case. She only waited on him to admit the obvious.

Brilliant and gorgeous.

He made it look as if he’d thought on her offer and said, “I admit, you make a valid argument.”

No litigator had smiled so brightly. “We just have to coordinate our day. How long are you going to be gone after you drop me off?”

“Four hours should be maximum.”

“Then I expect to see you or hear from you in four hours. Not a minute longer.”

His hardheaded negotiator would not stop until she’d won every concession. “Agreed.”

She stood there looking ... worried.

She was concerned about him.

Gray Wolf had been banging around but not being annoying yet. His wolf liked that their mate cared.

Hell, I do too, Cole silently admitted. I’m just as fucked up as you are to even be here with her.

Me good.

Of course, Gray Wolf didn’t think he was psychotic.

Needing to get rolling, but wanting to make sure she was safe, Cole walked over to his duffel bag and pulled out one of three guns. He had more in his SUV. Sometimes a bullet saved ripping into the enemy with his claws.

“I know you have a weapon at home, but can you shoot?”

She surprised him when she said, “Yes.”

“Really?”

“Don’t piss me off or I’ll show you,” she groused. “I grew up a politician’s daughter. Security everywhere, but once I went out on my own I told my father I didn’t want to bump into security the rest of my life. He said he wouldn’t assign anyone if I proved I could defend myself. I took an intense self-defense class, then spent three months training and brought my father to the gun range to watch me shoot targets at twenty-five yards. Nailed them.”

She just got hotter and hotter.

Cole wanted no chance someone would get to her. “Just remember, if you have to use it, no double-tap like for a human. Empty the magazine.”

She said, “Got it. I need clothes. I can’t walk into my building like this.”

“We’ll hit a Wal-Mart on the way and get you enough to enter your apartment looking decent.”  Personally, he preferred her looking indecent.

“That works.”  She handed the gun back to him.

He loaded her into his SUV and took one last look at the cabin he might not see again. An hour later, Tess wore new sneakers, jeans and a button-down shirt, looking more like the young woman he’d met in college.

When they reached her apartment, he had her inform the security she had a stalker. No one was to be allowed entrance as her guest other than her father and Cole. Packages were to be left at the front and delivered by security.

Her apartment was no different than he’d seen the other day, beyond clothes being picked up.

Letting her go when the time came would be the hardest thing he’d ever done. She stood in her doorway and lifted up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you, Cole.”

Cole’s heart paused, then thumped hard. Those were the words he’d wanted to hear seven years ago.

She said, “I know you love me and that you think we can’t figure this out, but we can at least try.”

He wouldn’t be around that long. “We’ll talk.”

That was the most he could commit to without lying to her. He cupped her face and kissed her back then said, “Go inside, baby. Be safe. I need to know you’re safe no matter what.”

She sniffled, but not a tear fell. Not his tough girl.

She nodded. “I’ll be fine as long as you’re the one who comes back for me. No one else. If any foolish shifter tries to get to me, I’m a good shot, and they won’t like which part has to heal.”

His woman. He loved her and it hurt not to say so, but that would make his final parting even worse. “Take that burner phone with you and answer it even if you’re in the shower. If not, this building will be under siege from an army of shifters like me. I’ll be back soon.” 

She gave him one last look and turned to walk inside.

He grabbed her arm and gently turned her around.

“What?” she asked, her heart in her eyes.

He kissed her with the desperation of a man afraid he’d never see her again, then whispered, “I have never stopped loving you and never will.”

Her lips parted but not a word escaped.

He eased her inside the apartment and closed the door, reminding her at the last moment to lock up.

With her eyes shiny from unshed tears, she smiled and shut the door. He waited to hear the locks being set before he was on his way.

Cole called Rory on his way back down. “Tess is set. I gave her the burner phone and you have the number if you need to reach her. I’ll be back as soon as I see Katelyn. I need to hurry to be on time.”

“We got your back and your woman covered.”

Cole didn’t correct him. “Thanks.”

He did a quick time check.

Katelyn said she’d meet with him for ten minutes. He had to get there ahead of that schedule to make sure she didn’t show up early, get cold feet, and take off.