Page 80 of Dangerous Lover

Sanders laid his hand over hers and squeezed. She whisked her hand out from under his.

It was the last straw.

Don’t touch me!The words were there in her throat and she had to clamp her jaw closed to keep them in.

Suddenly, Caroline couldn’t stay in the same room with the two men, with the photographs and with the doubts about the man she’d made love to all weekend. The man she’d been falling in love with. Was half in love with, still. If she stayed in this room one second more, she’d vomit her misery all over the floor. She shivered violently, stood up and rushed out the door.

Jack parkedon the other side of Hamilton Park just as it started to snow. Didn’t make any difference. He didn’t mind the cold and he needed to stretch his legs after the long day spent in his SUV driving around offices. He needed the walk across the park on the way to Caroline’s shop, to clear his head.

Something was very wrong with Caroline. Jack could feel it in his bones. All day, as he’d gone about his business, he’d had the tickle of unease as a background noise in his head.

Pity because otherwise, it had been a good day, no doubt about it. An airtight security system was going up at Greenbriar tomorrow. Cost him the better part of $8,000 but it was worth it. Caroline didn’t have to know how much it cost.

A fabulous property in a busy downtown building which would be just perfect for his business was for sale at a very reasonable price and he had an appointment the day after tomorrow with the realtor. With luck, he could incorporate and start his new business by mid-January.

His day had ended with a visit to an estate lawyer, something that had been preying on his mind. No matter whathappened to him, if he dropped dead this instant, from this day on, Caroline would be taken care of. She was his sole heir and she could live in ease from the proceeds of his estate.

Very satisfying all in all, but he couldn’t relax until he cleared up what was eating Caroline. She’d been pale and silent over breakfast, looking worried and wan.

He hated that. He hated to see that look on her face. It was probably a mix of money worries, someone she considered a friend attacking her and that fucking son of a bitch breaking into her home. Well,thatwasn’t ever going to happen again. The new security system was airtight. The only way to break into Greenbriar as of tomorrow would be to blow up the door with Semtex or fire an RPG through the living room window of Caroline’s home.

Hishome. Soon.

The last thing he’d done in his busy day was price diamond rings. It hadn’t been fun making the rounds of jewelers but it had to be done. His head swirled with technical data. Carats, clarity, hue. He didn’t give a fuck. All he knew was that he wanted something big and his on her ring finger. Big and bright and shiny enough so that it screamedback off!to every male who came within a 100-foot radius of her.

He’d seen at least twenty rings that would do. Tomorrow he’d swing by again and bag one.

The irony of shopping for a diamond ring when he had a fortune in uncut diamonds in a safe deposit box wasn’t lost on him.

Not for a second, though, was he tempted to use one ofthe diamonds in the cloth bag. They were tainted with blood, heartbreak and suffering. He’d never let one of them even near her. The stones would have to go as soon as he could arrange it. He wanted them out of his life and Caroline’s. There was a perfect way to wipe out the bad karma and he was sure Caroline would approve.

That idea was for later, for when she’d accepted that they were together. Were meant to be together for a lifetime.

When could he give her the engagement ring? Not today—today she was upset, tired, worried. He was going to have to work overtime at loving her tonight, not that it would be a hardship.

Maybe he’d give it a week. A week of sex and food and rest, fixing up her house, making it safe and comfortable. Put the roses back on her cheeks, wipe the worry off her face.

Yes, this time next week, he’d find out what the nicest restaurant in the area was, take her out and propose. Or take her to Seattle. Or—hell—to Aruba. That sounded about right. Some luxury resort, days in the sun, nights making love. A candlelight dinner, the ring and the promise to love her all the rest of his days.

And he’d have Caroline for the rest of his life.

The idea wouldn’t leave his head, once he’d planted the seed of it. Caroline—his forever. They’d have children and he’d grow old with her by his side. It was the one thing he’d never even dared to dream, all those lonely nights thinking of her, and here he was, close enough to touch the dream.

The image filled his head so much he could see her, right before him…

Jack frowned. That wasn’t a vision—it was Caroline, running right into the park in the middle of the fucking snowstorm. His jaws clenched. Shit, she was without a coat and had on a pair of those fancy shoes that might be good in a heated shop but that were ridiculous in the snow.

His frown deepened. She was going to catch pneumonia. Before she slipped and broke her fucking neck.

“Caroline!” he roared. “Get back in the shop before you catch your death of cold!”

She looked up, saw him and froze, panic and fear etched on her face. Then she whirled and disappeared into the shrubbery lining the path. In a second, the only thing on the path was falling snowflakes.

A sudden gust of raw easterly wind parted the snow. Jack could see all the way across the park and the street to Caroline’s shop. He had only a glimpse before the snow curtain closed again, but it was enough. Standing in the doorway was Vince Deaver.

The shock of seeing a man he’d left in custody ten thousand miles away sent him reeling.

His hands shook as he drew his weapon and checked it for ammo. It was second nature. He always had a full magazine. But he was operating on half his wits right now because the other half was scared shitless. Vince Deaver, a man he’d watched blow kids’ heads apart, was here, gunning for him, and Caroline was caught right in the middle.

---