Read Online Master Unchained (Stealth Guardians Book 2) by Tina Folsom - Free Book Online

past her and opened the door to the bathroom, inspecting it. The window was closed and locked, and there were no places where anybody could hide. The apartment was on the third floor, and there was no fire escape on this side of the building. Nobody would be able to get into the bathroom from the outside. He turned around. “It’s all good. Take your time.”
    Tessa forced a smile and disappeared into the bathroom. Hamish heard the lock click shut a moment later. He couldn’t blame her for feeling she needed to lock herself in the bathroom. She was vulnerable right now, and he was a stranger to her. If locking the door made her feel safer, so be it.
    Knowing he couldn’t do anything productive until he got word back from his fellow guardians, he marched into the kitchen, took off his jacket, and opened the refrigerator. There were enough supplies to whip up a simple meal. Since Tessa hadn’t had a chance to eat anything at the event, she would probably be hungry. And the forlorn look she’d given him told him she needed comfort. At least he could give her that in the form of food, since his touch earlier had clearly rattled her—although he’d meant it to be reassuring.
    Hamish found white wine, cream, some tomatoes and onions in the fridge, as well as pasta and olive oil in one of the hanging cabinets, and went to work. He was no stranger to cooking. After all, at the compound, where he lived with several other Stealth Guardians assigned to Baltimore, everybody fended for themselves when it came to food. Though he had to admit, ever since Aiden had bonded with a human, the lovely Dr. Leila Cruikshank, the quality of the food at the compound had improved vastly.
    He’d spent many evenings gathered around the dining table with the other guardians, devouring Leila’s delicious dinners. He’d learned a thing or two from her, and hoped that what he was throwing together for Tessa was edible. And would soothe her nerves a little.
    While the pasta and the sauce boiled, he walked to the bathroom door and listened. The water was still running. He held his breath, listening more intently. There was another sound, too. He couldn’t be one hundred percent certain, but his sensitive hearing picked up sobbing. He cursed under his breath, wishing he could walk in there and comfort her, but doing so would only frighten her more. Clearly she’d kept it together in his presence, not wanting to appear weak, but the moment she was alone, she broke like a twig in the wind.
    Frustrated that he couldn’t do anything for his charge, he walked back into the kitchen and set two places on the kitchen island. Then he checked his cell phone and sent a message to Enya.
    Anything yet?
    A few seconds later, she texted back. Manus and I just got to the location. Keep you posted.
    He put the cell phone back in his pocket and tasted the pasta, then drained it and poured it into the pot with the sauce. He covered it with a lid, then leaned against the island and waited.
    The minutes ticked by, but finally the bathroom door opened. Slowly he turned around and watched Tessa walk into the living room. She wore a long, fluffy white bathrobe. At her neckline he saw something lavender-colored peek through—a negligee. Her feet were bare. She’d combed her hair, but it was still damp. Her face looked flushed from the hot shower, and if she’d indeed cried, she’d hidden the fact well, maybe by splashing cold water around her eyes.
    “I made us dinner. You must be hungry,” he said, pointing to the place settings, before he turned back to the stove, grabbed the pot and serving spoons, and placed the dish on a pot holder on the island.
    “You didn’t have to do that.”
    “I didn’t just do it for you. I’m hungry, too,” he deflected, although he could have easily gone without dinner.
    “Thank you.” She approached and sat down on one of the barstools.
    “I hope you like pasta with tomato sauce. There wasn’t really much else in your