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been trying to call you.”
    “I haven’t been home much, and I left my cell phone on the charger. I’ve been distracted,” Cody said.
    The man looked at Shay and rubbed his nose. “I can see. I didn’t have your home number, only your address.”
    “You know this stalker?” Shay demanded.
    “I’m not a stalker,” the stranger said.
    “Then why are you stalking me?”
    “He’s a friend,” Cody said.
    “A friend?” Why had Cody sent a friend to spy on her? “I guess I need to apologize to the other guy for hitting him,” Shay said.
    Cody frowned. “What other guy?”
    “The one inside the house.”
    Cody tensed. “Who’s with you?” he asked the stranger.
    “No one.”
    Cody released Shay so fast she staggered to catch her balance, and both men rushed past her into the house. Shay hurried after them.
    “What in blazes?” Cody looked at the bookshelf knocked over and books strewn across the floor. “Did you see anyone?” he asked the stranger.
    “No. I just got here when I heard a scream and ran to help. She came at me like a madwoman.”
    “The last time I saw you in Scotland, I thought you were going to attack me,” she said. “You shouldn’t creep around spying on people.”
    The stranger gave her an exasperated look, similar to the one Cody wore. “I was trying to protect you.”
    “Well, you should have introduced yourself and said, ‘Hey, I’m here to protect you,’ instead of scaring the daylights out me.”
    Marcas rushed in the front door, with Lachlan right behind him, hopping as he shoved one foot into his boot. “What’s going on?”
    “Someone just broke in here,” Cody said.
    “I thought I heard something tearing through the woods,” Lachlan said. His sense of hearing was unmatched.
    “Shay, lock the doors. We’ll search the woods,” Cody said. “Let’s go, before the tracks get cold.”
    ***
     
    The night was dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. Cody tuned in his vision and saw something dart between the trees. He sprinted toward it, but nothing was there. He stood still and listened, sniffing the air. There was a strange smell, almost sweet, and everything was quiet.
    Too quiet, he realized, a second before something slammed him into a tree. Cody caught a glimpse of pale hair and lunged, tackling the man low. The guy felt like he was made of metal. Cody heard a grunt and tree limbs breaking as they fell. The moon emerged. There was a whooshing sound, and the man disappeared. Cody spun around, but his opponent was gone. Alarm prickled up his spine. A stalker, and now this? Had the clan been wrong about Shay? He wouldn’t let anything harm her, not after he’d just gotten her back. He turned around and bumped into Shay.
    “What are you doing out here?”
    “I’m not staying inside. Let’s go after him, before he gets away,” she said.
    “I didn’t see which way he went,” Cody said.
    “He ran that way.” She pointed north.
    “You saw him?” How was that possible, when he hadn’t? “You need to get inside.”
    “No. I want to help.”
    Cody took her arm and escorted her back to the house. They met Faelan coming around back.
    “Nothing in the barn or behind it,” Faelan said.
    “I saw him, but he got away. Shay said he went north.”
    “Shay?” Faelan said, looking surprised.
    ***
     
    “If the stalker was here, then who’s in jail?” Shay asked. Cody had a tight grip on her arm as he pulled her into the house.
    “That would have been me. Faelan Connor, ma’am.”
    Faelan was tall and muscular, with long, dark hair pulled back in a ribbon, exceptionally good-looking. Shay was used to being surrounded by tall, exceptionally good-looking men, but most of them weren’t in kilts, even when she lived in Scotland.
    Cody turned to Faelan. “You were in jail?”
    “Afraid so. Bad timing, and she definitely has a stalker. I’m not sure which variety, if you understand what I mean.”
    “Did you get a look at him?” Cody asked.
    “No. Police