Page 21 of Rescuing Carolyn

“I’ll cover his fee,” I said. “Besides, he’ll give me a discount.” The last thing I wanted was for her to be concerned about money when so much more was at stake.

“No, I can’t let you do that.”

“Carolyn, I want to do this for you.” I’d do anything to bring this problem to a close—for her business’s sake, but, more importantly, because I didn’t want her to be in any danger. I could see from her expression that she was wavering. “Please let me.”

She hesitated. “Maybe I could pay you back next month,” she said.

“Sure, if you want—but there’s no rush,” I agreed while thinking no way in hell would I take a dime from her. “I’ll give him a call. In the meantime, I think you should focus on the store instead of taking point on the investigation. Let me handle it. I can get backup from Chance and my brothers.”

“No way.” Her eyes sparked fire. “You can help, but I’m not going to just hand the investigation over—not even to you. No one knows this business like I do, which means no one will be able to spot signs of sabotage like I will. And no one’s as determined to find the person responsible as I am.”

“No one knows better than me how strong-willed you are.”

“Then you should know not to suggest it,” she countered.

I changed tactics. “Okay, if you want to be the one leading the investigation, then so be it. But don’t forget, you promised to let me be by your side when you hunt this guy.” I made my tone gentle to unruffle her feathers. “I need to know you’re going to keep that promise, because I can’t let the mother of my child walk into danger without me there to watch your back. Austin needs you too much for you to go rushing into danger.”

“Damn you,” she whispered, her face softening, and I knew I’d said the right words. “Okay, you’re right. I can’t do that to him.”

I reached for Carolyn, wanting to feel a connection to her. She didn’t resist, resting her head against my shoulder, letting me run my hands down her back to soothe her. I was going to leave it as just a comforting embrace until she tipped her face up to mine and I forgot everything but how much I felt for her.

My lips touched hers, lightly at first but with increasing urgency when she responded to me. I backed her up until she bumped against the desk. I was considering sweeping the desk clear and making love to her right there when the office door opened.

“Oh! Sorry,” Charlotte said, and the door closed.

“My sister’s never had the best timing,” Carolyn whispered against my lips.

“I know.” Stepping away from her was the last thing I wanted to do…but I knew it needed to happen. As much as I wanted to be alone with Carolyn, this wasn’t the right time.

Carolyn laughed. “I think it’s just as well. You should go.” She gave me a playful shove back and smoothed her hair.

“Tonight?” Inside or outside her house, I’d be near her. I was hoping for it.

“Come over to see Austin,” she paused, “and you can stay.” I shot her a grin. “In the guest room,” she clarified.

11

DALE

Iprowled past the front window, checking through the dusty blinds of the house I’d lived in for the past twenty years. The street outside was empty, deserted at this hour, but I never trusted appearances. I watched for any movement. The only motion came from tree branches scraping against the abandoned house across the street. Its front gate dangled open, and the sidewalk and street were cracked with age and neglect.

I hated this house, this neighborhood that I’d been stuck in ever since Faith Evert ruined my mother’s life. It was her fault I was here. Her fault my family had been reduced to crippling poverty. Her fault my sister and mother were dead, and I was alone in the world. I stalked over to the last snapshot taken of my family. Gloria, my mother, already sick with the cancer that took her, was thin and pale. My mother, worn by age and worry, couldn’t even manage a smile. They’d been victims of the Everts—and they were the reason why those bitches were going to pay, every one of them.

The daughter with the perfect blond hair and little boy would be first. Carolyn Evert. God, I even hated her name. My mother had told me about the spoiled girl, always getting what she wanted. I’d take her down—her and her store with the stupid name. All That Sparkles. By the time I was done, nothing would sparkle about the jewelry store. I had plans to reduce it and the Everts to ruin and ashes.

And I was close to succeeding. But Carolyn was cleverer than I’d expected. She’d foiled the robbery, thanks to that dumbass druggie. That’s what I got for hiring a guy who came that cheap. I should have known he couldn’t be counted on when a few pills and the promise of more was all it had taken to convince him to commit armed robbery. It was just as well he was dead. The guy might have become a liability later.

The robbery had caused trouble for the store. That was good, very good, but they’d reopened too quickly. I was going to have to escalate my game to take them out. Computer sabotage was a pivotal part of my plan—and, conveniently, my area of expertise.

I sat at a card table where my computer was, focusing on the large monitor. I’d remoted into my work, a job I’d pursued after learning that my employer was Carolyn’s tech company. Oh, the havoc I could cause.

Take that, bitch.

I’d seen her recent request for a security sweep come through. It would unearth some information about the measures that I’d taken, but nothing that could tie the fraudulent emails back to me. Not easily, anyway.

The computer forensics sweep might, though. I cracked open a beer and flexed my fingers. I’d done my best to keep my cool in the office when that email came through, even though my anger had spiked when me and the other techs received a notice to cooperate fully with the outside “expert” she’d hired by handing over passwords and access codes. I had played along, since I’d had to make it look good, all the while plotting how to cast blame on others.

Because I knew with every click of the analyst’s mouse, my danger increased. Carolyn was getting closer to me. If she’d hired an expert, it meant she’d already figured out that these setbacks weren’t accidental. Now that she knew she was looking for a saboteur, narrowing down the list of who had access wouldn’t take too long.

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