The long-term military service, the contract to work for Pelican Bay's security firm — the same security firm that everyone whispers about behind closed doors. I may not be a Pelican Bay native, but I hear the rumors. There's a lot more going on with Ridge's security firm than installing fancy and expensive alarms.No one knows exactly what those guys do and now I'm wrapped up in one of his contractors. I'm not sure I want to find out. My anxiety probably couldn't handle knowing what Graham's out there doing right now. Or why he won't be back until late. No one I know has a security alarm installed after seven and you definitely don't need a highly trained Navy SEAL to screw it in the wall.But if what I'm starting to suspect is true, eventually I'll have to find out what keeps Graham traveling all over the country. It's going to become important because the more time we spend together the more I believe he's the one.And that is scary as hell.Someone whistles from behind and
The room is bright and hot and stuffy. The lights blaze down on the growing plants as the walls close in on me. The shadows from the corners get closer with every fleeting millisecond it takes to scroll through my contacts and find his name.Time stands still and then rushes forward each time the phone rings and no one picks up on the other end. What is he doing tonight?"Please. Please. Please," I whisper even though I'm alone in the room.The call switches to voicemail and I hang up staring at my screen as if somehow, it's his electronic device's fault and not his.I hit recall and tip the top of one of the paper boxes stacked low enough for me to see. Inside green flakes of what looks like petals are wrapped together in clear cellophane. Dwight — or whoever is working down here — has quite the operation going. It looks like something you'd find in a movie. One of those cop comedies where somehow the dumber-than-a-box-of-rocks recruits catch the bad guys and $1 billion in dru
Dwight's hand slides further up my leg as he boxes me into the wall. I hold my breath trying to stay as far away from him as possible. There's a loud bang and another burst of cold air, but it's not until I hear a deep voice that makes my heart soar that I let my lungs fill again. The fear still gripping my nerve endings leaves me unable to move."Get away from her, Shoemaker." Graham addresses Dwight by his last name, which I don't remember telling him.Even Graham's commanding presence doesn't sway my attacker. Dwight smiles, his nose running against my ear as he laughs. His breath whips harshly against my skin, causing a chill in my bones. He's gone mad. Or has he always been this way and I never saw? Either way it will be okay. I believe it with everything in me. Graham is here now and I'm safe. Whatever happens, he won't let me get hurt."No, I don't think I will."BANG!A gun fires, the sound vibrating the walls in the enclosed cellar. I scream, trying to sink to the fl
The cold outside matches the temperature of the blood running through my veins even though I'm still wearing Graham's coat and we've been inside the Pelican Bay police station for over an hour. Detective Anderson from last night asked every question under the sun involving Dwight and working at the bed-and-breakfast. My whole life was laid before everyone.I've been less than helpful. Not because I'm still in shock — which I am — or because I have any loyalties, but I had no idea. Sure, Dwight was a bit strange, but I never thought he could be a drug kingpin of Pelican Bay. I never saw that coming. Who would?A shiver racks my body and Graham pulls me in close, rubbing his hand up and down my arm."I promise we're almost done here," the detective says, scratching a few of my last words on a piece of paper in front of him. "Is there anything else you can think of before we finish?"I shake my head with a double shrug. "I'm sorry.""Cammie never said anything to you or gave you
"Everyone knew you were working for him." For an undercover spy he was horrible at hiding his identity."That part didn't matter. I needed a reason to be here. He needed somebody with a reasonable explanation for a long stay. He was tracking the bed-and-breakfast for months but had been unable to find any concrete information. My job was to poke around when no one was looking."Of all the information I've learned tonight — from Dwight running a drug business and my friend Cammie being somehow involved — Graham's lies hurt the worst. I want to lash out at someone or something. Preferably him. I thought we had something special. We were building a relationship, but the only thing Graham cared about was building a case."So, you pretended to like me because you needed information about the bed-and-breakfast?"He scoots closer on the bed, throwing his legs over the side to get as near me as possible without touching. "No. I will fully admit you were a possible subject, just like ev
One year later*Graham*A breeze picks up on the street and blows Tara's hair behind her. Jasper, our Labrador puppy — who isn't so much a puppy anymore — tugs at the leash headed home."He would not make it in Maine," I say watching the sixty-pound dog tug at Tara's hand. Any time the temperature falls below forty we cut our walks shorts, but living in the city is hard and he needs exercise. Across the bay the lights of San Francisco twinkle.How much has changed in one simple year? Tara and I moved to California so I could work at the new branch in San Francisco, but rather than live in the overpriced city, we decided to stay in another overpriced city, Sausalito. Jasper came a few months later. At this time of night most people have cleared the streets as the temperature falls, but a few of the art galleries that drew Tara to this piece of land over the bridge are still open.Going back to work at a hotel was something Tara wasn't ready to do yet, but after we settled in a
VOLUME FIVE: QUICKEST RISK"Don't die. Please don't die." I smooth my hands along one of her curves. "Please, baby, not now."Steam rises from the edges of the hood. Gentle petting turns to angry hits on her dashboard as the car vibrates so strongly I'm forced to pull over to the side of the road."No! No! No!" Why me? Why, why, me?Is this Karma? Have I pissed off a Voodoo Queen somewhere? All those motivational speakers go on about how when one door closes, another opens, but there's no freaking doors in sight. The only thing visible for as far as I can see is cacti, dirt, and sand. So much sand.I bang my head on the steering wheel. Whose bright idea was it to come out to the desert in the first place?Right.Mine.No one has ever accused me, Hannah Stoneman, of being a brainiac.The car rolls to a stop, the engine giving out. It putters and croaks one last metal-on-metal clanking sound that can only mean final death. With one last lurch forward, we settle on the s
"I'm so sorry," she says, and she does look upset.Not that it does me any good."Whatever. Thanks." I hike my backpack higher on my shoulder and turn, stomping my way out of the lobby. Fuck how childish it looks. Anything is better than crying or stepping on the jerk's foot as I walk out. If he hadn't sped past me on the way in, I would have gotten the last room.The hot Nevada air assaults my face when the door opens and I take my first step outside — a not-so-pleasant reminder I have no water. Or food. Or sunscreen.The bell attached to the door dings again, and I turn back to watch the asshole who got the last room step onto the sidewalk. "Hey, wait up."What now? I stop and scowl in his general direction. "What?"The man smiles. Who knows what he's so happy about, other than having a room when I don't. Big blue eyes sparkle in the midday sun. That coupled with the dirty blond hair and a dominating presence makes him hot. And not in a temperature way."Looks like you