I need you to leave.”
She
bit her lower lip. “Are you saying I might be in some kind of danger?”
Not
if he could help it. “I’m saying you need to be careful.”
“Careful
how?”
He
stood up from his chair and walked over to one of the windows. He saw nothing
beyond the pane of glass but a world washed in darkness and rain. Devlin knew
Victor was out there waiting, watching for the right moment to strike again.
Would he leave another animal, or something worse? Devlin turned and looked at
Abby, who stared at him, waiting for his answer. He didn’t want to frighten her
further, but he needed her understanding and cooperation. “I want you to stay
close to me over the next few hours. Just in case.”
Abby
tipped her face up to him. “In case of what?”
“In
case -- in case you need me.” Devlin heard the sound of desperation in his
statement and hated himself for it. Wasn’t that what he really wanted, for her
to need him? No woman ever had. Why should she?
Abby’s
gaze softened; the firelight sparkled in her eyes, caressed her face. “How
close? Are you saying I’m not safe in this room, or even inside the castle?”
Her
controlled but weary tone made him want to wrap her in his arms once again.
Safety was an illusion on Wolf Island. One day soon, he hoped that everyone
living here would be safe. Forever. “You’re safe as long as you’re with me.” He
hoped his statement held depth and authority, even though he didn’t feel very
authoritative at the moment. He’d spent as much time as possible with her since
her arrival at Morgan’s Keep. He knew his presence wouldn’t stop that monster
from breaching the castle walls, but at least if Victor confronted them, she
would have a better chance of surviving if he were by her side.
She
studied her hands briefly before lifting her gaze. “I can’t be with you
constantly over the next several hours unless we --”
Her
mouth fell open, and she stared at him with disbelief blanketing her face.
Devlin
couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. However, he felt relief as well.
Thankfully, the shock over the news of finding the rabbit had begun to wear
off. “Don’t worry; I’m not suggesting you stay in my bedroom, but in a guest
room adjacent to mine. Why don’t you pack your things, and I’ll move them in
there.”
She
closed her mouth and pursed her lips. He could almost see the gears spinning in
her clever brain. “I’d rather stay in this room.” Abby gestured toward the
nightstand. “There’s a telephone, which I won’t hesitate to use if I hear any
more strange noises.”
“I
won’t take no for an answer on this, Abby.”
She
paused and tapped the tip of her index finger against her lower lip. “In the
morning, I’ll make a couple of calls and see if a room has come available in
town. I think I remember seeing a B&B very close to the sheriff’s office.
I’ll be perfectly safe, and it will put me closer to the locals so I can ask
questions about Miranda.”
“Forget
it!” He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. There was no telling what kind of
trouble she might get into out there on her own. If that monster knew she had
moved into town, he might -- No, Devlin couldn’t bear the thought of
something happening to Abby and him not being there to stop it.
Abby
inclined her head. “That sounds suspiciously like an order, and it’s not very
attractive.”
He
stepped close to her chair, leaned over, and rested a hand on the arm. With one
finger, he brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and then trailed the tip over
her cheek. “That sure wasn’t the case earlier.”
Her
skin flushed, and she licked her lips nervously. He lowered his gaze to her
mouth and contemplated kissing her. “You caught me by surprise.” God, he loved
her prim tone. “I was uneasy because of the storm. I’m not sure what my
reactions might have been had it been a clear night. Thank you for not trying
to force things
She
bit her lower lip. “Are you saying I might be in some kind of danger?”
Not
if he could help it. “I’m saying you need to be careful.”
“Careful
how?”
He
stood up from his chair and walked over to one of the windows. He saw nothing
beyond the pane of glass but a world washed in darkness and rain. Devlin knew
Victor was out there waiting, watching for the right moment to strike again.
Would he leave another animal, or something worse? Devlin turned and looked at
Abby, who stared at him, waiting for his answer. He didn’t want to frighten her
further, but he needed her understanding and cooperation. “I want you to stay
close to me over the next few hours. Just in case.”
Abby
tipped her face up to him. “In case of what?”
“In
case -- in case you need me.” Devlin heard the sound of desperation in his
statement and hated himself for it. Wasn’t that what he really wanted, for her
to need him? No woman ever had. Why should she?
Abby’s
gaze softened; the firelight sparkled in her eyes, caressed her face. “How
close? Are you saying I’m not safe in this room, or even inside the castle?”
Her
controlled but weary tone made him want to wrap her in his arms once again.
Safety was an illusion on Wolf Island. One day soon, he hoped that everyone
living here would be safe. Forever. “You’re safe as long as you’re with me.” He
hoped his statement held depth and authority, even though he didn’t feel very
authoritative at the moment. He’d spent as much time as possible with her since
her arrival at Morgan’s Keep. He knew his presence wouldn’t stop that monster
from breaching the castle walls, but at least if Victor confronted them, she
would have a better chance of surviving if he were by her side.
She
studied her hands briefly before lifting her gaze. “I can’t be with you
constantly over the next several hours unless we --”
Her
mouth fell open, and she stared at him with disbelief blanketing her face.
Devlin
couldn’t help but smile at her reaction. However, he felt relief as well.
Thankfully, the shock over the news of finding the rabbit had begun to wear
off. “Don’t worry; I’m not suggesting you stay in my bedroom, but in a guest
room adjacent to mine. Why don’t you pack your things, and I’ll move them in
there.”
She
closed her mouth and pursed her lips. He could almost see the gears spinning in
her clever brain. “I’d rather stay in this room.” Abby gestured toward the
nightstand. “There’s a telephone, which I won’t hesitate to use if I hear any
more strange noises.”
“I
won’t take no for an answer on this, Abby.”
She
paused and tapped the tip of her index finger against her lower lip. “In the
morning, I’ll make a couple of calls and see if a room has come available in
town. I think I remember seeing a B&B very close to the sheriff’s office.
I’ll be perfectly safe, and it will put me closer to the locals so I can ask
questions about Miranda.”
“Forget
it!” He wasn’t letting her out of his sight. There was no telling what kind of
trouble she might get into out there on her own. If that monster knew she had
moved into town, he might -- No, Devlin couldn’t bear the thought of
something happening to Abby and him not being there to stop it.
Abby
inclined her head. “That sounds suspiciously like an order, and it’s not very
attractive.”
He
stepped close to her chair, leaned over, and rested a hand on the arm. With one
finger, he brushed a strand of hair from her eyes and then trailed the tip over
her cheek. “That sure wasn’t the case earlier.”
Her
skin flushed, and she licked her lips nervously. He lowered his gaze to her
mouth and contemplated kissing her. “You caught me by surprise.” God, he loved
her prim tone. “I was uneasy because of the storm. I’m not sure what my
reactions might have been had it been a clear night. Thank you for not trying
to force things
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