Chase arrived the next morning, had a quick cup of coffee with Fiona while she finished her breakfast, and they got to work. The morning was taken up with Fiona’s recording, with breaks to rest her voice.

In the afternoon, they went over the morning work, tagging areas that would need another read or breaths removed. That set the work pattern for the next couple of days.

However, working with Fiona wasn’t Chase’s only job at the moment. He still had responsibilities to Brotherhood Protectors.

The day after he’d arrived in Texas, Hank had asked him to help on another Brotherhood Protector case. Since so much of his work for Brotherhood Protectors was computer-based and could be done almost anywhere, he agreed to give Rhys Morgan a virtual hand with his electronic surveillance at the Dream Vistas Guest Ranch. Whenever Morgan needed to be away from the video stream, Chase could watch from here and file a report for Morgan and Hank.

Sometime early Friday morning, Fiona’s heart jumped and she sat straight up in bed. Something had jarred her awake. A noise? No, an aroma. The scent of pipe smoke was strong, much stronger than in the past. Was someone in her bedroom?

She touched her clock. “It is three a.m.,” it said.

She moved her left hand and found Huck. He wasn’t alarmed in the least. His breathing was regular, as though he’d been deep in sleep.

Still, the smell was so vivid.

“Is someone here?” she asked with a snarl. “My dog is trained to attack if I give the command.” He wasn’t, but she was the only one who knew that. “Get out.”

She waited for a reply. Holding her breath, she strained her ears to listen. Was she hearing someone else breathing?

Her heart was a bass drum pounding so loudly in her ears it could drown out another person’s breaths…If there was another person.

Other than Huck’s snores and her own breathing noises, her bedroom was silent. There were no creaks from the stairs. No sounds emanated from anywhere else.

She pushed what little vision she had to see, but other than the gray shapes from her bedside table, there was nothing. The house alarm remote control found its way into her hand without conscious thought. The buttons were in the “alarmed” position, as they should be. No one could get in or out without setting off the earsplitting siren.

After setting the panic remote back on her table, she slid down into her sheets. Getting back to sleep would be impossible, but she needed to get some rest. She lay there, her ears straining to pick up any stray noise. The pipe tobacco aroma was beginning to lessen. After an hour, she finally dropped off into a restless sleep.

***

Bobby Wood stood in the bitch’s doorway. He didn’t dare breathe or move. She might be blind, but she seemed to possess an uncanny ability to know what was around her. He was well aware that his pipe smoke had filtered into her room. He’d meant for it to. One day soon, she’d find out that she wasn’t nearly as safe as she thought.

But that time wasn’t tonight. He was still having too much fun getting her rattled.

“My dog is trained to attack if I give the command,” she said, and he almost snorted. Right. That old hound wasn’t good for anything but shedding dog hairs around a house that, in all seriousness, should have been his, and would be some day.

But not tonight.

He stood rigid for two hours while he waited, making sure she was asleep before he left. The second he heard a slight snore, he made his way downstairs, deliberately missing all the steps that might produce a noise. Downstairs, he put on his shoes and headed out the back door, the same door that he’d removed the alarm sensor from a couple of weeks ago. He could come and go as he pleased and she would never be the wiser. Dumb bitch.

Right now, he had to get home before his nosy sister noticed he was missing. He walked the two blocks to where he’d left his car, got in, and raced home.

***

The continued buzz of Fiona’s alarm finally penetrated the fog of sleep. She rolled onto her back with a groan. She was so exhausted her bones ached. Then she remembered last night and froze. A quick sniff revealed nothing but the scent of her lavender air freshener. Beside her, Huck stretched, pushing all four paws against her side. He certainly wasn’t concerned.

Still, that icky feeling that her private space had been invaded remained strong.

After deactivating the security alarm, she and Huck tromped downstairs so she could let him out to do his morning business. At the same time, she brewed a cup of coffee hoping the caffeine jolt would sweep the cobwebs out of her head.

It didn’t.

However, the second cup combined with a cool shower and fresh clothes, did help reinvigorate her for the day ahead.

By the time Lori arrived, Fiona had shaken off her funk and was ready to move on. As usual, Chase arrived during breakfast.

“Morning,” he said, greeting her with that deep voice of his that suggested all kinds of naughty potential.

She swallowed, her toast pushing the lust back down her throat. “Good morning. Glad it’s Friday?”

“I’m always glad it’s Friday.”

“Can I get you something, Chase?” Lori asked. “I can scramble up some eggs for you.”

“Thanks, Lori, but no need. The hotel has a breakfast buffet, so I hit it before I left.”

Fiona stood. “I’m going to run and brush my teeth before we start. I’ll meet you on three.”

“Works for me.”

His chair screeched as he pushed it back.

Fiona climbed to the second floor and stopped. The mild scent of pipe tobacco lingered. She leaned over the second floor railing.

“Hey, Chase.”

“Yeah?” came his reply from below.

“Do you smoke a pipe?”

“Nope.”

“Cigar? Cigarettes? Electronic vaping?”

“Nope, nope and nope.”

“Shoot. I keep getting whiffs of pipe smoke or maybe cigar smoke. I thought maybe it was on your clothes or something.”

“Oh, damn, Fiona. I meant to tell you,” Lori said.

“What?” Fiona called back down.

“It’s my brother, Bobby,” Lori said. “He’s taken to smoking a pipe. I didn’t know until a day or so ago, and I totally forgot to say anything. I guess I’m carrying the scent on my clothes without realizing it.”

“By any chance, were you in my room yesterday?”

There was a noticeable pause before Lori said, “I think so. Maybe putting away some clothes.”

“Well, that must explain it. See you on three in a minute.”

Fiona straightened and headed to her bathroom. Bobby smoking a pipe. That seemed strange. She’d never met Lori’s brother, but from the way Lori talked about him, she’d thought him much too young to take up smoking.

Not her circus, not her monkeys, she told herself as she brushed.

Today’s work didn’t go as smoothly as it had in the past. Fiona blamed herself. She had trouble staying focused. Finally at noon, she gave up.

“Sorry, Chase. I’m struggling today.”

“No problem. We all have days like today. You want to take the weekend off or try to get in a few more hours?”

She reached for the second chair in the room.

“At your four,” Chase said.

Wrapping her fingers about the top, she pulled the chair out and sat. “Let’s take the weekend off. I’m just not feeling like myself.”

“No problem. I have plenty to keep me busy.”

“Oh, yeah? What are you doing?”

He blew out a long sigh. His warm, cinnamon-scented breath wafted over her. Lust swirled through her, and her gut clenched in response.

“I’ve got my eye on a used motorcycle. I want to check it out this weekend.”

“Yeah? What kind?”

“Harley.”

“I’d roll my eyes but the effect would be lost behind my glasses. Here, look at me.” She put on what she hoped was a face of exasperation. “This is my exasperation face,” she joked. “You’re so like a guy. A Harley. What kind of Harley? What year? What color? How fast?”

There was a slight pause before he said, “Oh, man, Fiona. It is so freaking great. It’s a twenty-twelve, but it has less than sixteen thousand miles. I mean, it’s been barely ridden. It’s got the one-ten Screaming Eagle engine, nav system, heated grips and seats, cruise control, a rad audio system and a comfy back seat.”

The excitement in his voice was infectious and she smiled. “What color?”

“Color?” He paused. “Bright orange.”

She laughed. “Anyone would see you coming a mile away.”

He snorted. “Guess so.”

“So, are you going to buy it? You know how dangerous those things can be, right?”

“I survived a bomb blast in the sandbox, I think I can survive a bike.”

She wanted to ask how much it cost, but that seemed like a rude question. Plus, if he bought it, she wanted to go for a ride and if she protested too much, he might not take her.

Wait. What he’d said registered. “A bomb blast?” she asked.

“Don’t want to talk about it,” he growled.

“Okay then,” she drew out. “Back to the bike. Does it come with two helmets?”

“It could. Why?”

She drew in a quick, excited breath. “Take me on it. I have never been on a motorcycle.”

“Seriously? Never?”

“Never. Please, Chase. I promise not to wiggle, and to wear a helmet, and do everything you say.”

He chuckled. “You’ve gone from it’s too dangerous to I want to ride in under a minute. Women confuse me.”

“Let’s go test ride it tomorrow,” she suggested with a little bounce she couldn’t restrain. Her mother had forbid her from getting on the back of a motorcycle, sure there would be another accident, only this time Fiona would die. Her mom had been a little over protective, not that she could blame her. Her husband had died and her daughter had lost her sight from the last accident. “Come on. We’re taking the weekend off, right? And,” she added, “I’ll even feed you dinner tonight, if you’ll take me with you.”

“Hmmm, that’s tempting.”

“Tempting?” she scoffed. “It’s a great offer.”

He chuckled again and something deep inside her clenched. “Tell you what. If you’ll leave me alone to get some work done this afternoon, I’ll think about taking you with me tomorrow.”

“And dinner?”

“Oh, that’s a given. I’d love to stay for dinner.”

She hopped up from the chair. “I’m out of your way. Later, gator.”

She and Huck climbed into the elevator and rode to the bottom.

***

Chase laughed to himself. Fiona Samuels was so much more than he’d expected. He really, really liked her. She was as beautiful inside as out, although he doubted she knew how attractive she was. Killer smile. Rockin’ body. Flame red hair that sucked the breath from his lungs like the fire it resembled.

He wondered what it would be like to kiss her. Would her lips be as hot has her hair?

He wondered about her sexual history, and his heart skipped a beat. Was it possibleshe was a virgin? I mean, her mother had sheltered her until her death last year. Was it possible that she’d never had the freedom other teens had? The freedom to hook up in the back seat of a car? Or after prom?

She’d attended a local college, so her living arrangements had not changed in all those years. Could she have had a boyfriend back then?

He didn’t think so. At least, she’d never mentioned having an ex.

Damn. He wasn’t sure how his mind had drifted to sex and the possibility that Fiona had never been with a man, but now it was consuming him.

And it also made him a little anxious. His days of introducing women to sex were decades behind him. He had to go back to his freshman year of college for his last virgin.

He’d lost his virginity to a high school senior when he’d been a sophomore, and it sure hadn’t been her first time.

A slow smile pulled at his lips. KellyAnne Conroy. He hadn’t thought of her in years. But she’d been an excellent teacher.

Since then, he had to admit he’d had quite a bit of practice…up until the sandbox.

Now, he doubted women would be attracted, not with his scars.

Okay, enough. He had work to do.

It was close to six when the elevator door slid open.

“Chase? You still at it?”

He was so deep in his work, he startled at her voice and jerked.

“I’m done,” he said, marking the spot where he stopped. Glancing toward the door, his breath stuttered.

Fiona had showered and changed into a sexy, tight pair of jeans that showed off her perfect figure, and he’d bet money she had no idea what she was doing to him right now. He adjusted the crotch of his jeans to give himself a little more room.

“Dinner can wait if you need more time.”

“No, no. I’m done.” He stood and stretched his back.

“What popped?”

He laughed. “My back. I get stiff when I sit too long.”

She winced. “Ouch.”

“Actually, it sort of feels good when that happens.” He rolled his chair under the production console. “What can I do to help you?”

“Dinner’s almost done but it would be a great help if you could take Huck for a walk around the block.”

“Happy to. I could use the exercise. I get stiff in my old age.”

“How old are you,?”

“Thirty-three. How old are you?”

“Thirty-two.”

“Just a baby,” he joked. “Back to my walk. I’m assuming Huck has a lead or something.

“Downstairs.” She waved a hand toward the elevator. “Come on. I’ll get it. Don’t be surprised if he makes you stop at corners so he can look for cars.”

“Safety first.”

He and Huck headed out the front door, took a right, and they began a rapid walk. He wasn’t kidding about needing some exercise. He should probably find a trail to run, or at least bring running clothes and jog Fiona’s neighborhood. That’d beat trying to jog near his hotel, which would probably get him run down due to the heavy traffic volume in that area.

At the first corner, Huck pulled Chase to a stop, and then they set off again. Chase learned quickly to slow down and give the dog a chance to scope out the street.

They turned the corner, and Chase began a slow jog. The dog had no problem keeping up. Fiona lived in a planned subdivision, and the traffic was surprisingly light, probably only cars from homeowners. There were no through streets, so that cut down on the stray traffic.

After a couple of blocks and many, many, stops for Huck to mark yards, they turned toward home. The sun was dropping quickly and the fall night air took on a crisp temperature. As he and Huck neared Fiona’s house, a tall, muscular man walked across the street. He carried himself with authority. Reminded Chase of every Army officer he’d ever met.

“Evening,” the man said and then leaned over to stroke Huck’s head. “How you doing, Huck?”

“Good evening.” Chase’s eyes narrowed.

“Friend of Fiona?” the other man asked.

Chase’s hackles rose. He didn’t like being interrogated, especially by a stranger on the street. “Hope so, since I’m walking her dog,” he snapped. “I’m Fiona’s audio engineer, and you are?”

“Shade Gruber.” The man flipped the hem of his shirt up to reveal a badge. “I’m Chief of Police here in Big Branch.” He held out his hand. “Sorry for the questions. We’re all a little protective of Fiona.”

Relaxing, Chase shook the extended hand. “Chase Adams. I’m glad to hear someone watches out for her.”

Shade chuckled. “Aw, hell. Don’t tell Fiona. She’d come over and kick my butt all the while explaining that she doesn’t need a bodyguard.”

“Feisty.”

“You know it. So, I’ll be seeing you around?”

“For a while. Right now, I’m only here for the one book.”

“I heard Harold had retired.” He studied Chase. “What branch?”

Chase didn’t even pretend he didn’t understand the question. “Army. Spec Ops.”

Shade nodded. “I figured that or SEAL.”

“Bah. SEALs. They’re all wet.”

The guys laughed.

“Seriously,” Chase said, “they are some of the baddest-ass soldiers around. I had a number of joint missions with them. Respect the hell out of them. What about you?”

“One tour. Marines. Came home and went into the police academy.”

Chase nodded. “Listen, mind giving me a contact number just in case? I can’t help but worry about Fiona living alone in such a big, old place.”

“Give me your phone.” Shade typed his information into Chase’s phone, and then sent a text message. “Sent me a text from your phone so I have your contact info.”

“Good idea.” Chase glanced toward the house. “I’d better get moving. Fiona is cooking, and I’m a little nervous.”

Shade chuckled. “Don’t worry. She’s a great cook.”

“Really? You’ve had dinner with her?” The dragon of jealousy that lived in Chase’s gut raised its head.

“Why, yes, I have,” Shade said, and then grinned. “Me, my wife, and two kids. Down soldier. No claims.”

Chase ran his hand through his hair. “Sorry,” he muttered. “So, she doesn’t have a boyfriend or anything?”

“Never has. The field is clear. Make your move.”

“Thanks, man.” He shook Shade’s hand again. “Nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Chase and Huck started up the sidewalk but stopped when Shade called, “You run?”

Chase turned. “Yep. Was just telling myself tonight I needed to find a local route.”

“Meet me here in the morning about five.”

He smiled. “Will do. Thanks.”

***

He would never admit this to anyone, but he’d expected Fiona’s dinner to be sparse and simple. But when his gaze found baked chicken, carrots, mashed potatoes and lima beans on an elegantly set table, his mouth dropped in surprise.

“Wow,” he said. “This looks…incredible.”

“Bet you expected me to order pizza or slap together a couple of sandwiches, didn’t you?”

“Well…” He dragged out the word.

She laughed. “I can cook, Chase. I don’t often because cooking for one is hard, so I usually do a salad or sandwich for dinner. But I love to mess around in the kitchen.”

“But…how?”

“How did I do this? It pretty simple when you understand my kitchen. Everything has a specific place. My stove is marked. All my supplies are marked in Braille. It’s been twenty years since I lost most of my vision. Either I had to learn to do for myself or starve to death, and considering how much I love to eat, I decided to learn to cook. I don’t fry anything because I never liked the idea of being around hot oil, but I hear there some new technology that’s called air frying. I need to check that out.”

He shook his head in admiration. “Well, everything looks and smells delicious. I’m starving. What can I do to help?”

“Wash your hands and fix whatever you want to drink. Check the fridge. I’m sure there’s beer, iced tea, and milk. Cold water is on the door. I’m going to put Huck’s dinner out for him and I’ll meet you at the table.”

“What can I get you to drink?”

“Water is fine. No, wait. Grab me a beer.”

Chase grinned. Nothing like seeing a woman with a longneck beer between her lips to give a guy dirty ideas.

Over dinner, the conversation flowed easily. They flipped from topic to topic like a bird hopping from branch to branch in a tree.

“Tell me about your accident,” Chase said, “unless it’s too difficult to talk about.”

“Pretty typical story actually. Dad and I were in Dallas to buy Mom something special for her birthday. Drunk driver hit us head-on. I was in the back seat, but I wasn’t buckled in. There wasn’t the emphasis on buckling up back then, like there is now,” she said as aside. “Anyway, when we were hit, I flew forward into the back of Dad’s seat. He was crushed between his seat and the steering wheel. The doctors told us the bleeding from the internal damage had been massive and he’d died pretty much instantly. I was always glad of that. I would have hated if he’d suffered. My back was crunched, and my spine damaged. When I woke up, I couldn’t see. The doctors could never figure out what caused the change in my vision. You know, I can see wavy shadows, right? But that’s about it.”

“Right. I think you told me that. What about the drunk driver?”

Her expression shuttered. “He lived.”

“Bastard. They usually do. I hate drunk drivers.”

“Well, he didn’t escape unscathed. His son was in the car, and he was thrown through the front windshield and died.”

“God, that’s awful.”

“I know. He was driving a delivery truck for a major company. Insurance and the company paid my mom a ton of money.” She gestured around. “We were living here, but I’d probably still be paying a mortgage. The money paid off the house, paid for my school, paid for my mom’s education since she had to go to work and it got me my first service dog.”

“What happened to the other family?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. They moved out of state.”

“What a total clusterfuck. Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“I’m a big girl, Chase. I know what clusterfuck means.” She grinned. “I was pulling your chain that first night. Of course I cuss in my house. I was just mad and frustrated at myself for forgetting the ladder and I took it out you. Sorry.”

“Not a problem. I understand completely. Hey, want to take a ride in my truck for dessert? Dairy Queen is calling.”

“Oh, hell, yeah,” she said with a laugh. “See? I know dirty words too. But not tonight.” She waggled her eyebrows. “I have brownies and ice cream here for dessert.”

“Can I help?”

“I’d rather you not. I have specific places for everything. If you put something in the wrong place, then I’d make a total mess in there.”

“Mix up the sugar with the salt?”

“Right. Salty cookies. Grab a seat and keep me company.”

He did and was fascinated to watch her move around her kitchen, wrapping up the leftovers, putting them in the refrigerator, putting together the sundaes.

“So, tell me about you,” she said as she worked.

“Not much to tell. Misspent youth. Army got me back on the right track. Now, I’m home.”

“Wow. Bio Cliff notes. Family? Siblings? Parents? You know, the other stuff.”

“Parents live in New Mexico. That’s where I grew up. I have five sisters. No brothers.”

She laughed as she put ice cream in a bowl. “Five sisters? Where are you in the line-up?”

“Youngest.”

“No wonder you got in trouble. Tell me about the Army.”

“Nothing to tell. Joined. Got lucky and got into special ops. Spent time overseas.”

“Did you see battle?”

He rubbed at the scar on his cheek. “Yeah, some.”

The microwave beeped and she added warm brownies to the ice cream bowl.

“I’m impressed. You baked brownies.”

“Don’t be. Lori made these yesterday. I just heated and served. Want to eat them on the sofa?”

“Sure. Let me carry both of them, and before you tell me you can do it yourself, I know you can. I just need to feel useful.”

She smiled, and his heart flopped over. He was sorry about her vision for her sake, but for his? He was thankful she couldn’t see his scars and defects.

And yes, he realized how damn selfish he was being.

They talked about his podcasts while they ate. As soon as they were both done, Chase set the bowls on the side table.

“Can I tell you something?” Fiona asked. “Something that will probably embarrass the hell out of you.”

“Go on. I can take it,” he joked.

“It’s your voice. I love the deepness of it, the timbre of it. I was shocked when you rang my bell and announced who you were. I want to see you.” She waved her fingers in the air. “See you with these. Let me touch your face, see what the face looks like that goes with this incredible voice.”

He sat frozen in place and said nothing.

“I’ve embarrassed you, haven’t I?” Fiona said.

“No, no,” he hurriedly replied. “Not at all. It’s just…”

“What?”

His head began to pound. He wiped his sweaty palms down the jeans covering his thighs. He swallowed against the lump in his throat.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Chase. Touching your face is such a violation of your personal space. Sometimes my people skills are lacking because I can’t see the nonverbal stuff, so I say or do something a sighted person would never do.”

She stood, but he couldn’t let her leave, couldn’t let her think she’d done anything wrong because she hadn’t. He grabbed her hand.

“Wait. Sit. I need to explain.”

She sat and turned toward him.

“This is hard, so bear with me. When I was overseas, there was an accident. I was injured.”

“Oh, Chase, the bomb. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m not done. I was badly burned, Fi. I have…scars. Bad scars. On my face and body.”

She caught his face between her hands. “Let me look. Trust me.”

He nodded, his words failing him.

She slid her fingers down his cheeks, across his eyes, over his forehead, and dragged her thumb along the seam in his lips.

“You’re beautiful,” she said.

“No, no, I’m not.” He tried to pull away, but she wouldn’t let him.

“To me, you’re perfect. I see with my fingers.” She stroked his undamaged cheek. “This is smooth, except for your five-o’clock shadow.” Her finger lightly traced the scar on the other side. “This side is like a roadmap. It says to me that this man has lived. He’s been fearless and brave. He fought a battle and won.” She glided her hand down his unspoiled cheek. “This side doesn’t tell me a story, except that you need to shave.”

He chuckled, and laid his hands over hers. “My arms have scars. My chest has scars.”

“Just more story telling by your body.” She put her hand on his chest. “You’re what’s inside here, not the wrapper than covers it.” Leaning toward him, she said, “Will you kiss me? Please?”