Page 103 of 5 Golden Flings

The unexpected male voice had Colby pivoting, firmly bracing himself between Brynn and whoever was coming through the front door. Shit. How had he not secured that?

The face that appeared had him relaxing only a little. Gray. He’d called Gray. Talking with Brynn had completely blown that detail from his mind. Spotting Colby, Gray pushed through the door, followed by a very tall man. That must be Knox Pearson, Gray’s boss.

The man’s dark countenance was unsettling. Lord, he hoped he’d made the right decision.

Not that they’d given him much choice. He’d barely gotten through his description of what was in the box before Gray had put him on hold to get his boss.

They’d both insisted on seeing the evidence themselves. Colby had extracted a promise that they’d explain what they knew before he’d tell them where to go. Of course, once he’d learned their side of the story, he’d known he needed to get back to Brynn.

He wasn’t leaving her alone. Now or ever again.

Suddenly from behind him, she let out a scream.

He turned to circle his arms around her. “It’s okay, Brynn. It’s okay. I know them.” He felt her shiver in his arms andregretted he hadn’t been able to warn her, but there simply hadn’t been time.

“Brynn,” he said softly, so the men couldn’t hear him. “I’ve got a couple of guys I want you to meet. I think they can help us.”

That solemn hazel gaze met and held his. He tried to keep his expression as open as possible. “It will be okay.”

When she’d looked her fill, she nodded and stepped back from his embrace. His friend and his boss stepped to the side as soon as they entered the house to remove their wet and dirty shoes before continuing on. Colby appreciated the unexpected courtesy. Maybe it would make them a little less intimidating to a single woman.

It did seem to set Brynn more at ease. She gestured the men into the living area. Though the electricity was back on, she still had a fire going in the fireplace. Colby ached to go back to laying behind her on the couch while they watched the flames until they fell asleep—safe and warm. Together.

Maybe soon they could go back.

“Apparently Brynn had a visitor while I was gone,” he said, tossing the photos down onto the coffee table. He sat next to her on the couch, unable to look at the photo of her sleeping on the couch any more.

“Where did you find these?” Gray asked, his voice soft as if not to startle her.

Brynn whispered, “In the woods.”

He’d probably never forget the fear in her eyes. “Why would someone do this?” he asked.

Gray shook his head. “It could just be a random peeping tom or someone who wanted to show proof that someone had taken up residence in the house.”

“Or they could have had other reasons for wanting proof,” Knox said, his deep voice as disturbing as Gray’s was soothing.

“She’s not safe, is she?” Colby asked.

“We can’t know for sure,” Knox said.

He glanced around the unusual interior of the space, scanning the vestibule and the peeked roof in the main area. He glanced over his shoulder to see the stained-glass window. Under his scrutiny, Brynn’s back got a little tighter, a little straighter.

The man had an intimidating presence, with eyes that seemed to see everything. Colby couldn’t blame her for getting her defenses up. According to Gray, he didn’t keep up the intensity all the time—once you got to know him.

Finally, Knox glanced down at her. “Can we see the room please?”

That startled them both.

“I thought you’d want to see the photos?” she said, her voice a little strangled.

“I do. But first, the room?”

He wasn’t overbearing, but firm. Brynn didn’t concede immediately. She continued studying him as if she could pull his thoughts from him just by looking.

As if realizing his mistake, Knox held out his hand. “I’m Knox Pearson. I’m the new owner of Hawthorne Preparatory school. This is Remington Gray, my head of security.”

The other man shook her hand in turn. “Everyone calls me Gray.”

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