Page 53 of Justified Fear
He had a good feeling that Seth knew how Ryan felt about Keely.He shook his head.Relief filtered over her pretty features.She had been worried he would get in trouble.
“So, tell me about your time at the CIA?”
Keely wokethe next morning and reached for Ryan.She frowned when she found nothing but cool sheets.It took her more than a few seconds to open her eyes.It was still dark, but maybe just before dawn.It wasn’t like her to wake up this early.Well, not since she had first moved to Hawai’i.
As she sat up, she winced.Ryan had taken her twice more during the night.She had been well-loved, and her muscle irritation showed it.With careful moves, she eased herself out of bed.
Did Ryan leave?That didn’t seem like him at all.Peeking out the blinds, she noticed that his truck was still there.
After a quick trip to the bathroom, she wrapped herself in a robe and went in search of Ryan and Maya.When she entered the kitchen, she noticed there was a pot of coffee, so after grabbing a mug, she headed out back.Keely assumed that Ryan had taken Maya out there.She found the pair sitting on the lanai.The first rays of the sunrise were peaking over the trees behind them.
Maya immediately stood and trotted over to her.Keely bent down to give the German Sheppard a pat or two.
“She was not happy about leaving you in the house alone,” Ryan said, his deep voice growling over the words.
She was still bending over when she looked up at him.His hair was a bit of a mess, and he had a day’s growth of beard on his jaw.YUM.
It took her a second to get his words to register.“I was rather sad when I found myself alone in bed.”She wandered over to him and sat in the chair nearest his.
“I wanted you to get some rest.I didn’t give you a lot of time for that last night.”
She snorted before taking a sip of coffee.“Did you hear me complain?”
His mouth twitched.“No.”
“I would love to ask you over for dinner tonight, but I don’t know if that’s too pushy.”
He raised his hand to cup her face.“Not too pushy.And I would love to come over for dinner.”
Before she could respond to that, the Dillon Security app on her phone went off.Frowning, she lifted her phone.
“We have company,” she said, as she rose.
He stopped her.“Let me check it out.”
“I met one of them yesterday.They’re from Dillon.Come with?”
His gaze searched hers for a second, then something that seemed to be relief filled his eyes.He followed her into the house, Maya on their heels.
She opened the door and found Ian Smith and a blonde woman standing on her stoop.
“Kind of early for a security check, isn’t it?”Keely asked them.
Ian had been very reassuring when he’d checked her system the day before.
“You didn’t use the code word we talked about yesterday, Keely.”
“I sort of have some protection,” she said, motioning to Ryan, who was standing behind her.She was in her robe.He was wearing only a pair of jeans.There was no doubt just what had been going on in her house the night before.
Ian’s blue gaze moved from her to Ryan, then back to Keely.“Interesting.Either way, you need to start using the security measures.Your father is worried that this has more to do with you than TFH thought.”
She felt rather than saw Ryan stiffen behind her.“Something happened?”
“Chad Brothers is missing, and from everything we could dig up on him, he wants revenge against Keely.”
Eleven
“Mama,” Keely growled into the phone, “why didn’t y’all call me?”
