Chapter 7
Thad trailed Lucy, leaving his root beer float behind. As he passed the formal dining area, he spotted her standing rod-stiff in the threshold of the formal living room. Beyond her, he saw a man. Moving forward with quick instinct, he pulled Lucy back and stepped in front of her, catching sight of her wide eyes. Seeing the man had scared her.
The man bent and turned on a light.
It was Secret Service agent Jaden Mayfield, six-three, short cropped brown hair and slightly over two-hundred pounds. He wore jeans and a polo shirt, similar attire to what the other agents wore while on duty protecting his mother, more casual than usual since they were out of the public eye.
“Mr. Winston,” Mayfield greeted. “Sorry if I startled you and Miss Sinclair. I just finished my rounds and was about to check the house.”
Had he come through the front entrance? Wherever he’d come from, he’d have had to walk a good distance in the dark before reaching the formal living room.
“Do you always check the house in the dark?”
The agent kept an impassive face. “Not always. I like to listen first. I thought I heard something.”
Maybe he’d heard Thad and Lucy in the kitchen. Maybe something else had him standing in the living room in the dark as though Lucy had caught him by surprise.
Lucy moved to stand beside Thad, her body not as stiff and eyes less alarmed, still holding the root beer float. She probably thought Cam had broken in. Instead, it had been Agent Mayfield, the man who’d replaced Daniel Henderson after he’d been shot.
“Excuse me. I’ll finish up.” The agent passed them to leave the living room and presumably check the rest of the house.
Lucy turned from watching the agent’s retreat to Thad.
“What was he doing when you first approached?” Thad asked.
“Just standing there in the dark. Is that odd?”
“Just standing there? Yeah, a little.”
“Maybe he heard me coming and stopped,” she said.
“Maybe.” Thad couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t, that the agent hadn’t heard Lucy. Her feet were bare.
“I’m just glad it wasn’t Cam,” Lucy said.
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your room.”
She eyed him warily but turned and walked up the grand staircase to the upper level. He stayed a good distance from her, walking behind her and careful not to let any part of him touch her, lest the flames flare up again.
At her room, he stopped her before allowing her to enter and searched the room. Assured no one was there, he went back to the doorway, where she stood just inside with a humorous smirk toying with her mouth and eyes, holding the mug with both hands, sparkling green eyes that he’d sunk into as he succumbed to powerful desire. Kissing Lucy had been the most incredible experience he could remember in a long time. Which was disturbing.
But not as disturbing as the behavior of the Secret Service agent.
“Are you always this cautious?” Lucy asked.
“My mother’s never been shot before.”
She lowered her eyes contritely. “I suppose I’d be the same way.”
He was on high alert at all times. Vigilant and protective. And he’d remain that way until the gunman was caught.
“Good night,” he said to her again, the same thing he’d said earlier when he’d stopped himself from saying something stupid like “see you at breakfast.” As though he planned on taking her as his woman. Taking her, period. Taking her over and over again.
“Good night,” she answered, and it warmed him despite his will for it not to. He wasn’t a family man and she’d joined an online dating site to find one.
As he turned to head down the hall, the thought of that chafed him. There would be a lot of men who’d be interested in dating her. Cam had been a dud, but the next one may not be. He may not be a family man and she may not be interested in being with him because of that, but did that mean they couldn’t explore something casual? No. Lucy was not that kind of woman. And he was not the kind of man to involve himself with someone like her. He wasn’t against living together, but she would want more. He had relationships and wasn’t against living with someone. The only glitch was that until he was an old man, he expected his relationships to end. That didn’t have to be a bad thing. It would probably be mutual. Finding the perfect mate wasn’t easy. People either got lucky or they pretended to be. The ones not pretending were few and far between. That was the problem he had with marriage. And children tied a couple together whether the love was genuine or not. Thad didn’t believe he’d ever be one of those lucky people, and he absolutely refused to pretend. His father had pretended and look where that had led. To his mother’s broken heart and never-ending bad press.
Thad reached the living room again and looked around for Agent Mayfield. Confirming he was alone, he began to search the room, going over every square inch. None of the furniture was out of place. Nothing had dropped on the floor. He didn’t find any hidden surveillance.
Going over to the windows, he peered outside. All the lights that were supposed to be on were. The gatehouse guard was in his place.
As he started to turn away, he saw the lock on the window was up. The window was unlocked. He pushed the lever back down and tested its sturdiness. All of the other windows were locked. All of the windows but this one.
Thad looked back to where the agent had turned on the light. It was steps from here. Had he heard Lucy approach and had just enough time to get away from the window?
He looked back at the window. Why would he unlock a window?
To allow the gunman access so he could have a second try at Kate Winston?
It was wild speculation, but Thad wasn’t taking any chances. He checked the security system and went through the large house to check every window on the lower level. The security system was still operating, and all of the windows were locked except the one in the formal living room. Had the agent been interrupted before he could disarm the security system?
* * *
Thad found Agent Jaden Mayfield with his feet up in the library, reading a sports magazine, finishing up his shift. He didn’t like the man. He didn’t trust him.
The agent’s brown eyes looked up when he heard him enter.
“Can I have a word with you?” Thad asked.
The agent swung his feet off the ottoman in front of one of the black wingback chairs and set the magazine down. “Sure.”
Was it Thad’s imagination or did the man seem nervous?
“I found a window unlocked in the living room,” Thad said.
The agent’s eyes grew marginally bigger before relaxing again. “I checked them earlier.”
“But not tonight?”
“No. I did a walk-through.”
He made it seem so casual. It wasn’t casual to Thad. His mother’s life depended on the thoroughness of the agents protecting her.
“Did you unlock the window?” Thad asked in his most direct tone.
The agent grunted. “Why would I do that?”
“Did you?”
Agent Mayfield met Thad’s hard stare. “No.”
Thad wasn’t sure he believed him.
“With all due respect, Mr. Winston, I know you’re Kate’s son, but I don’t need anyone questioning me on how I do my job.”
“I didn’t question you about your job. I asked you if you unlocked the window.”
“And I told you I didn’t.”
Thad would check the video recordings and see if anything showed up.
“There are a lot of experienced people working to find your mother’s gunman, Mr. Winston. I’ll be sure and check the windows on a regular basis and make sure all of the other agents do the same.”
Thad decided it was time to ease up. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
With one more look back, Thad left the room, vowing to keep a close eye on the man.
* * *
The next morning, Thad went down to the kitchen, where he heard voices. Sam stood in front of the coffee machine, his muscular friend Mike Harris leaning against the counter next to him. The two had met in the military. On the counter were two plates with the remnants of eggs and potatoes. Whatever meat that had been prepared with it was gone.
Sam stopped talking when Thad approached them. He was two years older than him and opposite in many ways. Blue eyes where Thad’s were hazel, buzz cut where Thad’s hairstyle was longer and less orderly. They were close in height, though.
Thad leaned a little and extended his hand to Mike. “Been a while.”
Mike shook his hand. “Yeah.”
“How are you doing?” Thad asked.
Mike exchanged a look with Sam. “Better every day.”
Thad saw how his brother withdrew with that reply. He kept all that had happened to him bottled up and Thad worried that would have an adverse effect on him and his quality of life. His mom said Sam just needed time. He’d come around eventually. Thad hoped she was right. Victims of violent crimes did need time to come out on their own. It wasn’t uncommon for victims to withdraw into a world of silence, at least when it came to their trauma.
“We have a full house.” Sam veered the topic away from the seriousness of his and Mike’s capture. “Mom said you’re sweet on her home care nurse.”
First Darcy and now his brother. When would people stop bringing up the sexy nurse? “Mom’s condition is making her hallucinate.” Or gave her time to be more observant about her sons. And right now, her focus was square on Thad.
“She is pretty hot. I saw her with Mom yesterday.” Sam wiggled his eyebrows. “Don’t let that one pass you by.”
Thad didn’t engage. Kissing Lucy last night rushed back to haunt him. He couldn’t believe how strong his desire had been, how completely she’d drawn him in.
“Have you noticed anything odd about one of the agents—Jaden Mayfield?” Thad deliberately changed the subject.
Sam sobered. “No, why?”
Thad explained what he and Lucy had stumbled upon and that the window had been open.
“You think he unlocked it?” Sam asked, incredulous.
“I don’t know. Why would he? I checked the security videos and nothing was out of place. The gate was secure, nobody was missing in their patrols and the electronic system was online.” It would have been impossible to get past security to reach the window last night.
“They let you see the videos?” Mike asked.
Thad did his best to appear contrite. “No.”
“You sneaked in and had a look yourself?” Sam laughed wryly. “I should have been a cop instead of enlisting in the army. You’re having all the fun.”
“Sam...”
“Anybody could have left the window unlocked,” Sam said, back to being serious. “Maybe one of the servants opened it for fresh air and forgot to lock it.”
That was possible. “Yeah. It’s probably nothing.”
“I think you should spend more time going after Mom’s hot nurse.”
The glimpse of Sam’s sense of humor was an encouraging sign that he was recovering, but Thad was in no mood to talk about Lucy. Not after last night.
“Having a male bonding session?” a familiar female voice interrupted.
Thad turned and saw Lucy enter the kitchen, aware of how Mike took notice of her, and almost hearing him agree with Sam. Lucy was hot.
“Lucy, this is Mike Harris and my brother Sam.” Thad made the quick introduction, reluctant to hang around for the coming exchange.
She stuck out her hand, and Mike took it. Sam received the same greeting.
“You’re in the military?” she asked. “I overheard...”
“Yeah, but may not be staying in,” Mike answered.
“Why not?”
It was an innocent question, but one that wasn’t received well by either man.
“Sam and Mike were both held captive in a foreign prison for three months,” Thad explained. “They’ve been home for almost six months now.”
“Oh.” She looked remorsefully from one man to the other, resting on Mike. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay,” Mike said.
“Are you getting the help you need now that you’re back?” she asked.
A caregiver at heart, Lucy didn’t have any qualms about confronting touchy subjects, and this was a touchy one for both men. At least, it was for Sam.
Mike glanced at Sam, who gave no reaction. “We’ve considered it,” Mike answered, seeming to warm to Lucy. She did have a way about her. She genuinely cared and it showed in her eyes and the way she spoke, not overdone. Just matter-of-fact and full of kindness.
“Aside from the treatment we endured while in captivity, we’re suffering from some memory loss. I’m not sure how much of that I want to remember, though.” Mike again looked over at Sam, who still wouldn’t contribute to the conversation.
“Memory loss?” Lucy moved into the kitchen, finding a cup and then going to the coffeemaker. Mike was closest and lifted the pot and poured her some.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Mike said like a man affected by an attractive woman.
Thad watched while Lucy’s sympathetic gaze softened Mike like an injured bird in her palm.
“I’m not sure I would, either, but you need help getting past something like that,” she said.
“Maybe.” Mike’s eyes traveled briefly over her upper body before meeting her caring eyes again. He was taking too much of an interest in Lucy. Okay, so she was hot. But she was his.
As soon as that thought came, Thad shut it down. Why was he thinking of her as his? Not in the sense that she was his girlfriend, he rationalized. He had noticed her first. And, yes, he had flirted with her, still was at times. Maybe that’s where the idea came from.
“I know some people who work with memory loss. There are some exercises you can do to help restore it. Would you like me to give you his name? If not, I can give you some links to resources online.”
Thad saw how Sam perked up with the mention of that.
“I’d like the online links,” he said.
“I’ll send them to Thad and he can pass them along.”
“You must have really caught Kate’s attention to have her bring you here as her home care nurse,” Mike said.
“Oh, I don’t know about that. I was her nurse at the hospital, that’s all.”
“What made you decide to get into nursing?”
Thad wondered if he’d have to step in. He felt like taking Lucy by the arm and escorting her out of here.
“My father is a doctor,” she answered. “I guess I saw how happy he was every time he saved a life.”
“Most people can’t handle the gore.”
“That took some getting used to. But when you work with it every day, it becomes routine and clinical. It only bothers me when they die.” Blowing on the hot coffee she held, riveting each man in the room as her lips pursed, she sipped her coffee.
“Did you just come by for breakfast?” Thad asked Mike, more of a confrontation.
Three heads turned to look at him.
“Uh-oh.” Sam’s mood brightened. “You’re homing in on his girl.”
Mike smiled. “I guess this is when I tell you you’re a lucky man. She’s a great catch.”
His good-humored response tamed Thad’s tension. Lucy’s stirred it up again.
She put down her mug of coffee. “Hey. I’m nobody’s catch. Thad and I aren’t seeing each other.”
“Yet,” Sam said. “One thing I know about my brother is that he needs something other than sports to keep him warm at night.”
“Well, then, maybe there’s hope for me,” Mike carried on the banter while Thad inwardly cringed. If only he’d kept his mouth shut.
“Lucy.” Mike took her hand and gave the top of it a peck of a kiss. “It was a pleasure.” When he straightened, he shook Thad’s hand. “Thad.”
“Mike.”
Mike then gave Sam a brief hug and pat on the back. “Thanks for breakfast. Let’s get together again soon.”
“Plan on it. I’ll give you a call.”
“I should get going, too.” Sam went to Thad and leaned in for another man-hug. “Take my advice, Thad.”
Don’t let Lucy get away or something like that. Thad ignored him. When Sam left the kitchen, Lucy asked, “What was that all about?”
“He’s conspiring against me,” Thad answered. And seeing Lucy all dressed and ready for the day, he wondered if he’d be conspiring against himself before long.
“Oh.” She nodded uncomfortably. “Um...about last night...”
He put up his hands. “Yeah. Sorry about that. It was just...”
“Late,” she said for him.
“Yeah...late.”
“The root beer floats...” She was still nodding.
“Who can resist the charm of that?” Smoking-hot charm. He could think of so many other things that would lead to that than an innocent root beer float. “Well, I better get going. I made plans to go to a hockey game with Darcy.” He backed toward the archway leading out of the kitchen and to the side entrance.
“It’s still morning.”
Caught, he stopped and didn’t say anything. Never had a woman had him so weak-kneed.
“Who’s Darcy?”
“A friend. Cop. We went to the police academy together. He’s getting past his divorce.”
She stepped forward. “Oh. You’ll be perfect for him.”
“Very funny.”
She smiled and stopped close to him. “You like sports.”
He thought her comment was more of an observation. “It’s going to be a great game.”
“No, I mean, you really like sports.”
“Yeah...” he hedged. What was she getting at? “Football. Basketball. Hockey.” Pretty much all of it.
“You’re almost obsessed with it. You work and watch sports. No time for women.”
“I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I think sports fill the gap. What if you spent that time with me instead?”
He didn’t even have a reply for that. What had gotten into her? That was a bold thing to say. Did she mean it?
Was she flirting? Leading him? Did she want something to come of them? Thad had mixed feelings about that. He could see himself being with her, maybe even for a long time, indefinitely, even, but she was after a ring and strollers. He got a cold flash just thinking of it.
She moved closer still. “Scared?”
He frowned at her easy perception of where his thoughts had gone. She was on a mission, and he was the target. “No.” He wasn’t afraid of marriage and children, he just didn’t believe they were for him.
“I think you are.” She put her hands on his chest, sliding them up. Her eyes were alight with mischief. This was the playful side of Lucy, the side that told stories.
Lured into whatever had compelled her to be this way, he didn’t fight the instant warming that she’d deliberately ignited.
“You’re afraid to trust any woman with a future. Sports are safe. You can pour all your attention into that and never risk a thing.”
“Where is all this coming from?” That kiss?
“Just an observation. You have trust issues.”
He didn’t like how that came with a sting of truth.
She reached up and traced her finger along his lower lip. “Yeah.” That finger trailed down his neck to the V of his long-sleeved shirt. Her palm flattened there, caressing him a little before going still. Then she rose up to put her mouth right beneath his. “If only someone could show you how good it could be.”
“You mean...you?” He was hard.
“Yeah,” she said in that sexy voice. “You should try giving someone a chance.”
“I’d give you a chance.” But only if she could go into it casually.
“At what?”
“This,” he said. “Last night.” And more.
She drew back a fraction, far less flirtatious. “But not a chance at marriage and kids.”
He regretted the change in her. “It doesn’t mean we can’t have something special together.”
She recoiled, stepped back as though a hot iron had just burned her. “You holding back isn’t special to me.”
Would he hold back with her? Hold back marriage and kids, but she meant more than that. She meant the whole emotional package that came with those two terrifying obligations. When he realized apprehension had attached itself to his thoughts, he wondered if, somewhere inside of him, he’d decided that, with her, the whole emotional package was attainable. Or was it the other way around and he felt threatened by her? Threatened that she’d lure him into marriage...
He didn’t reassure her that he wouldn’t hold back. He couldn’t. The idea that she threatened him had him all mixed up.
With a disgusted sigh, Lucy went around him and left the kitchen. On her way she tossed over her shoulder, “Have fun at your game.”
* * *
Lucy had to go into a bathroom to get ahold of herself. Why couldn’t she take a step back from Thad? And why had she tempted him that way, put herself against him, caressed him like a lover? Had she wanted to make him respond? Feeling his hardness had given her immeasurable satisfaction. It had encouraged her. Could a man respond that way, so quickly and so poignantly, without love fueling it?
Yes.
She’d be a fool to believe otherwise. It hadn’t been any special feelings toward her that had made him react, it had been a purely male response to a woman teasing him with the possibility of sex.
Bracing her hands on the bathroom counter, she looked at herself in the mirror. It wasn’t like her to do things like that, much less let her emotions get to her this way so powerfully. She normally took life’s curveballs in stride, with a story or a joke to go with it. She always moved on without a scratch. Why was Thad so different?
One kiss and she was a mess. Well, it was more than one kiss. It was more than a kiss....
That sank her mood lower. She contemplated packing her suitcase and leaving. But she’d made a commitment, one Kate was paying her a lot of money for. She couldn’t back out now. She was stuck here in this estate until Kate was fully recovered.
Taking a deep breath and forcing the lump in her throat to loosen, she left the bathroom and went to make sure the servants had brought Kate her breakfast.
“There you are,” Kate greeted as she entered the master suite. There was a tray over the bed with a plate of oatmeal, fruit, yogurt and a glass of orange juice.
She sounded stronger every day. “Sorry I’m late.”
Kate waved a hand as she finished a bite of oatmeal. “If it wasn’t for the physical therapy, I’d be just fine.”
“The physical therapy will make you heal faster.”
“It doesn’t feel that way.” Kate winced as she moved her upper body in an attempt to stretch.
“You’re supposed to be sore.” Lucy began picking up around the room, needing something to do while she waited for Kate to finish eating. She couldn’t stop analyzing what Thad had said, and what he hadn’t said. No way would he ever consent to marriage and children. He refused to entertain even the possibility. While she felt on the verge of falling truly in love with him, he remained in control. He might say he loved her, but what kind of love would it be if he denied her what she craved? He wouldn’t love her fully if he refused to give them a chance. A real chance.
She couldn’t predict what he’d do if they kept having encounters like the one they’d had last night. Even more unsettling, she couldn’t predict her own response if they did, and didn’t think she’d be able to resist him. The burn of tears surged forth. She should have stayed in the bathroom until she was sure she had control of her emotions.
“Lucy?”
Realizing Kate had been talking, Lucy jerked herself to attention, wiping under her eyes to make sure no tears had escaped. “Sorry.”
“What’s wrong?”
What was the matter with her? Why was she all weepy over Thad? “Nothing.” It was just a kiss.
A kiss that had knocked her world off its axis. A kiss that had shown her how strong her attraction was for Thad. Too strong.
“All right. What’s he done?” Kate demanded.
Lucy focused on Kate. “Who?”
Kate did a half roll of her eyes. “Thad, of course. What’s he done now?”
“Nothing. He’s done nothing. Really. I’m fine.”
Kate studied her for a moment. “Don’t let all his talk about marriage never working get to you.”
“I’m not.” Lucy felt silly now. “We don’t talk about marriage.” Well, that was a lie.
“Thad’s attitude stinks. I warned you about that.”
“Really, Kate, I don’t know your son that well.”
“Stop cleaning. The staff will do that.”
Lucy stilled and faced her.
“I’ve been meaning to talk to you and Thad about something. I was going to wait until I recovered a bit more, but now is as good of a time as any.” She waved her over.
Lucy went to sit on the chair beside the bed.
“We have a house in Carova Beach,” Kate began. “When I’m better I plan to go there for a visit. But usually I send someone there to get the house ready. With the assassination attempt, I have to be careful with who I choose.”
Uh-oh. Lucy had a bad feeling about this. She shifted in her seat.
“I was going to ask Thad to go, and I’d like you to go with him.”
“But I’m here to take care of you.”
“And you are. You can go when I’m back on my feet.”
“I really don’t see why I should go along.”
“Thad told me about that man who waited for you after you were finished working,” she said. “I don’t think, and I’m sure Thad would agree, that you should be alone right now.”
“What about you?”
“Thad also told me about his concern over one of my security agents. The window was left unlocked. It could have been an innocent mistake, but it could have been more. I need someone I can trust to secure the beach house for my visit.”
Lucy understood that. But going to a remote beach house with Thad wasn’t in her best interest right now.
“I’m concerned for your safety, and mine,” Kate said. “And Thad could use some time with you, to see what a real woman could do for him. It might even change his mind about love.” Kate smiled with well-intended deviousness.
Her motive was purely as a matchmaker and nothing less. Lucy could not ignore that.
“Why do you think I’m any good for Thad?” she asked. “I mean, I know I deserve a good man. I’m not insecure and I have a lot to offer. But Thad isn’t interested in the same things I am.” Not when it came to love.
“Having a family?” Kate asked derisively.
“Yes.” Didn’t she see? It would be futile for Lucy to carry on any kind of relationship with him. Especially when her feelings were already so deep.
“That’s precisely why you’re perfect for him.” Kate scrutinized her again, and Lucy felt exposed. Thad’s mother understood what had her so down. “Come here.” Kate reached her hand toward her.
Lucy stood and went to her, and Kate took her hand.
“Thad doesn’t know it yet, but you’re right about marriage and he’s wrong. You can teach him that, and if the two of you fall in love, everyone benefits.”
And if only one of them fell in love, what then? “Are you sure you’re not trying to arrange a marriage for us?”
Kate let go of her hand. “Lucy, my dear, I wouldn’t push the two of you if I wasn’t sure of the way he feels about you. Thad has never been in love before. When he falls in love, he’s going to realize that marriage and love go hand in hand, and children are the celebration of them both.”
Lucy stared at her while the possibility of Thad being a viable suitor for her mushroomed. Could he be just like one of the men she’d choose on her online dating site, one who shared her desires for the future?
What would happen if Kate was wrong? What if Thad stuck to his beliefs? Where would that leave her? If she dove into this headfirst and really went after him, she might very well end up with a broken heart.
“I’m sorry,” she said with the shake of her head. “I’m not the one for him. If he ever falls in love—” which she did not believe he would “—it will have to be with someone else.”
Kate’s face fell with disappointment. “I understand. It was worth a try.”
“Are you finished?” Lucy indicated her breakfast, eager to get things back to business.
“Yes.”
“Then let’s get you up and walking.” As Lucy lifted the tray off the bed and set it aside, Kate’s proposition plagued her.
Or was it temptation?