Page 153 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
“Okay. Give me a minute to see Hugo off, then I’ll come shower you.”
Her pupils widen before she nods. She heard my comment as I had intended. I’m going to take care of her as I’ve craved from the moment she crashed into me at the airport.
“The main bedroom is just through that door.”
When I point to the wooden door on her left, she cranks her neck back to peer at it. “Okay, I’ll wait for you in there.” She paces toward the door, spinning back around just before she enters. “Can you thank Hugo for helping me today?” Her brows pull together tightly as her teeth get friendly with her lower lip. “My screams will be ringing in his ears for weeks to come.”
“It's his job to protect you, Isabelle, so you don’t need to commend him for doing the job he's paid to do.”
“I know, but I still want him to know I’m grateful.” She stares at me with begging, tear-filled eyes. “Please tell him.”
She waits for me to nod before entering the main bedroom. Once she closes the door, I walk back out onto the veranda. After scanning the densely treed property, I find Hugo near the driveway talking on the satellite phone Hunter gave me earlier.
“We’ll go over more specifics when I return… all right… I’ll speak to you tonight. Bye, Hawke.” After disconnecting his call and handing me his phone, Hugo gestures his head to the cabin. “How is she?”
“She's all right, a little rattled, but proving to be stronger than I thought.”
Hugo grins, the twist of his lips amusing. “Yeah, I’ve seen a different side to her the past week. She’s a powerhouse when she wants to be. At least I was left uninjured after our run-in. Hunter learned the hard way that she isn’t to be messed with.”
My brow arches. This is the first I’m hearing about any confrontation between Isabelle and Hunter.
Hugo chuckles. “Hey, I'm no snitch. If you want to know all the deets, you’ll have to pry it out of Hunter or Izzy.”
I shove my hands in the pockets of my suit before glaring at him. Hugo is the first man I’ve come across who doesn’t quake in his boots from my furious glare.Stupid bastard.
As my brain tries to devise acceptable praise for Hugo, I remain quiet. It isn’t that I don’t like issuing praise, but my staff’s acclamations usually come in a monetary form. Hugo will be rewarded for aiding Isabelle today with a hefty bonus check, but I told Isabelle I'd thank him on her behalf, so I'll follow through on my agreement.
“Isabelle wanted me to thank—”
“Don’t thank me, Isaac.” Hugo swipes his hand in front of himself. “I should have never let her out of my sight.”
I don’t refute his statement since everything he said is true.
Happy to avoid an awkward conversation, Hugo heads back to my town car. “Do you want me to collect you tomorrow afternoon?”
A switch inside me flicks on as excitement heats my blood. “No, I’ll take the DB out for a spin.”
Hugo waggles his brows before securing the charger for the satellite phone off the passenger seat. “Just in case you need it.”
After handing the equipment to me, he thrusts out his hand in offering. With a wry grin, I shift the satellite phone to my left hand before accepting his gesture. He uses my imbalance to his advantage. He pulls me in for a man-hug, his hand slapping my back as if he’s more a friend than an employee. “Call if you need me.”
“Thanks. I will.” I spin on my heels and walk back into the cabin without a backward glance, hating the mirth his tone was dripped in.
CHAPTER26
ISABELLE
I’ve always trusted my intuition. From now on, I’m going to listen to it. Something was drawing me to the barn, but every step I took had my legs quivering more. It wasn’t just the horrifying visual that caused my distress, it was the unimaginable smell.
I never want to smell anything like that ever again.
When I joined the Bureau, I envisioned that I’d help people like my Uncle Tobias helped me, but I haven’t done anything helpful since I started my position six months ago. If anything, I’ve hindered more people than I’ve aided. And even more concerning than that is the fact I’ve hurt the people I care about the most. Maybe I’m not cut out to be an agent. Perhaps I’m not strong enough to handle this type of career.
My somber thoughts are interrupted by a door creaking open. My eyes float up from the brown shag rug to where the noise came from. When my eyes lock in on Isaac leaning in the doorjamb, watching me cautiously, my heart skips a beat. His white dress shirt is rolled up at the sleeves, and its collar is stained with the mascara that ran down my face when he carried me to the car.
After his eyes finish their lengthy appraisal of my body, he pushes off his feet and heads my way. Every step he takes makes my pulse intensify. My heart grew so large it barely fits in my chest from the attentiveness he displayed during our drive to the cabin. I’ve never felt safer and protected than I do now.
Without a syllable seeping from his lips, he scoops me into his arms, then carries me to the other side of the master suite. His manly scent invades my every waking sense. It’s the only smell capable of removing the putrid odor embedded on my skin.
