Breanna (20 page)

Brea listened attentively to her mother as they shopped. In between purchases and picking up her parent’s vehicle, Hannah Cooper was giving her daughter the instructions she should have had since birth.

Both laughed over mistakes, giggled when something caught the attention of a passerby and stopped to have lunch in one of the hotels that opened to the flat stretch of beach leading to the sea.

“People are staring,” Hannah lifted the cup of tea with both hands, gazing through the steam at the other people seated around the restaurant.

Brea looked up from the large sandwich she’d ordered, biting through the bacon and sighing.

“They do seem to be. But I haven’t been in town but once since the shop was burned,” she shrugged. “If it’s important, someone will say something.”

“I think it’s because we’re a couple of gorgeous girls out for lunch,” Hannah declared with a bright smile at the giggle from her daughter. She picked up one of the planks of fish and bit down. “Will you marry one of them?” Brea looked surprised. “I hadn’t thought about it.” She looked over her sandwich at Hannah. “Are you disappointed in me?”

“Are…..Breanna!” Hannah was up and hugging Brea hard. “Don’t you dare think such a thing!”

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“It isn’t exactly normal, mom,” she said softly, not wanting people to hear.

“There are a lot of things far from normal, baby girl. Too many things. I don’t remember seeing you so happy, so….comfortable, Brea. I’ve met one or two of the young men you dated,” she shook the short pixie cut hair. “They never suited you. They never took the time to know you. But Jase and Nick…..the three of you fit together. And the looks in their eyes when you’re near….I’ve seen that look on your father for many years and it’s the best thing you could ever hope for. Don’t allow anyone to tell you differently.”

“I thought about Ariel and Arizona,” Brea said softly. “She tried telling me it wasn’t about the sex. It was more and it was hard to explain. She said she felt complimented by them both. Now I understand what she was trying to explain. I kept telling myself I should be embarrassed…..” she felt the blush strike her cheeks. “But when we’re together…laughing and talking….having breakfast or out in the garden….it feels….right.”

“I think we have a bit more shops to visit,” Hannah said with a smile, opening her purse and laying out money for lunch.

“You haven’t been in town, Brea,” Tom Milford came from the side as they approached the exit, his eyes taking in Hannah. “Going to introduce us?” Brea was caught unaware, blinking up at the man just past six foot with neatly style dark hair and eyes that never seemed to be still.

“My apartment and shop burned, Tom,” Brea didn’t like the way he looked at her mother and looped her arm through the other woman’s possessively. “This is my….” 253

“I’ve moved into the area recently,” Hannah said with a smile. “Hannah O’Connor.”

“Tom Milford, Hannah O’Connor. Perhaps we can go out sometime?”

“No!” Brea exclaimed instantly. “Absolutely not.” A pair of narrowed blue eyes ran over them both.

“You’ve been seen with those security experts, Brea. There are some pretty wild rumors flying through town the last few days,” Tom said, the look on his face derisive.

“Are they new friends of yours, too?”

“We’ve shopping to do,” Brea said brightly. “Hannah is married, Tom and my relationship with anyone – is none of your business. Period.”

“And we’re dreadfully in love,” Hannah gushed dramatically.

“Will you be looking for a house or apartment? I have several available through my real estate agency,” he pulled a card from his pocket and offered it to her.

“Oh, no, thank you. We have a place already. We’re just a couple of poor teachers,” Hannah said with a smile.

“Oh? You have people in town?”

“She has me,” Brea told him happily. “I found her a perfect place.”

“I heard you were speaking with Gwen Sadler. About the property on the edge of the industrial park north of here,” Tom walked with them, ignoring their efforts to continue their shopping. He followed when they went into a small second hand store.

“You must seriously be bored, Tom, that’s my business,” Brea said carefully.

“Gwen and I are friends.”

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“You’re relocating the shop, then?”

“Of course, I am,” she frowned at him.

“That’s an expensive building. Are your new boyfriends buying it for you?”

“Brea,” Hannah gripped her hand tightly. “Small minded, non-entities are unimportant in your life. Oh, look at that bureau! I love it! Good bye, Mr. Milford. Please stop following us or I’ll contact the police.”

“It’s a beautiful vanity….and the seat looks like it’s just been refinished,” Brea talked and talked and worked to push his comment from her mind as they went through the second hand shop, selecting items that Amy promised could be delivered since they were buying several pieces of furniture.

“I’ll meet you at the house, Brea,” Hannah hugged her and slid into the familiar SUV, the engine turning over for her immediately. She pulled away from the curb, her phone up and open instantly when she saw the dark haired man approach Brea, watching without talking to her when she went into the lingerie shop.

Brea stopped at a few shops, making purchases and ignoring the looks she was getting. Evidently she’d become quite notorious. The young girl in the clothing store giggled with her over her purchases, helping her and folding the delicate fabrics as Brea paid for the sexy clothes.

“They’re just jealous,” Melody said as she packed up Brea’s purchases. “Most every woman here has tried to get one of them interested in her.”

“I guess I was too busy with my shop to ever notice.”

“And they were busy with their business,” she said with a laugh.

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“Why do people care, Mel? I’ve never been on anyone’s radar,” she said honestly.

“Because they’re bored with their own lives. Because they’re jealous. Who knows,” she laughed. “Just be happy. And have fun,” she said, brows wiggling expressively.

“Thanks, Mel, bye,” Brea took the bag and went to the SUV. She was thinking about the groceries she had in the back and the sexy clothes she’d bought. Most of them functional. Some of them for fun. And a couple pairs of shoes besides her runners.

“You look like sisters,” Tom Milford walked up behind her and leaned against the SUV when she tried opening the door. “How come I never noticed how pretty you were?”

“Don’t know, don’t care,” Brea said with a grimace, the alarm opening the door for her. She tossed the packages she had to the passenger seat and climbed inside. “If you step in front of me, I’ll run you over.” Tom grabbed the open door first and then her wrist. Giving a sharp pull before she realized his intent, she was back on the sidewalk, her free hand up and slapping him across the face.

“What is wrong with you?” Brea shoved but found herself thrown against the door. “I said leave me alone!”

“People have been flashing your photo around town,” he said flatly, blocking her against the SUV door.

Brea worked to control herself. Eyes darting around until his palm came out and 256

gripped her ponytail. “Oww!”

Alright, public or not, she was going to hurt him.

“They offered a nice reward for you. Let’s go for a walk so I can call the guy and tell him I found his missing girl,” he moved his hand to grip her arm.

“You seeing this, Steve?” Jase growled and it wasn’t a soft teasing sound as he and the police officer raced across the street.

“Milford just never had any sense,” the officer said with a sigh.

“Good,” Jase gripped the hand raised to grab Brea and twisted, hard until the man was looking up from his knees. Teeth clenched, he pushed words out that barely remained human sounding. “You ever touch her again…..”

“Jase!” Brea threw herself forward the minute Jase released the man’s wrist, her arms around his neck and eyes closed. She really didn’t want to attract attention in the middle of a tourist Monday. Killing someone would definitely qualify as attention grabbing.

“Arrest him for assault,” Jase told the officer, his arms closing around her. He owed her mother. She’d called and told him they were being followed around town since lunch. Jase had caught a ride in with Nick on his way to the bank. Evidently just in time.

His arms tightened. He could feel the power simmering inside her. He could feel the strength it was taking for her to not have acted on her own. She would have easily killed the asshole. The paperwork didn’t bother him as much as the guilt she’d feel 257

afterwards.

“Assault? Who the fuck do you think you are? I didn’t assault her! I just wanted….there’s a fucking reward for her!” Steve Summers looked at Jase and then at Brea. “I don’t have anything out on the wires about a want or warrants for Brea. All our residents should be as law compliant,” he said levelly, his glare steady and cold.

“He said someone showed him my photo. That they offered a reward to find me,” Brea forced herself to breathe, forced the air to become regular. “He said he had a number to call.”

“Stupid bitch is crazy,” Milford grumbled, jerking his arm and meeting Jase’s fist.

“Sorry…..slipped,” Jase stared at the slumping man. “I want the number.”

“Fuck you.”

“You really want to push this, Milford?” Jase leaned just close enough. “I – want

– the – number.”

“Shut up, Milford,” the officer ordered, hauling the man up on his feet and spinning him to face the SUV. “I saw you strike her. I saw you pull her out of her vehicle. I saw her tell you to leave her alone. Give me the number.” He jerked his arm and dug a palm into his pocket, coming up with a folded paper with a number scrawled across the bottom of the photo. A new and very recent photo, Jase realized. He took the paper and shoved it into a back pocket.

“Keep away from Brea.”

“I’m not the only one looking for her.”

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“I’ll put people on this, Jase,” Steve told him firmly, slapping handcuffs on Milford. “Got an idea why someone wants you, Brea?”

“We got rumors of people collecting women for rich bastards overseas,” Jase lied smoothly. “Some of our security people in Seattle heard it and passed it along to us a week ago.”

“Always some new jerks out there,” the officer shook his head. “This one won’t disappear as easy as the others have. Now let’s go over those rights of yours……one more time….”

“I didn’t want to….in public…..” Brea let the anger and frustrations free, her fingers tangled against the back of his head. “I didn’t have my baseball bat.”

“You ready to go home?” Jase felt the thin thread of control over the wolf that wanted to rip and shred the man being hauled off by the police officer.

“What are you doing here? I thought you had work?” Brea pushed against the broad shoulders and solid chest. She just realized her feet weren’t on the ground.

“Jase, put me on the ground,” she whispered, one palm stroking over his head. “I’m okay.” But she knew he wasn’t. She could feel the waves of anger he was reigning in.

“Yes, I’m more than ready to come home. This was my last stop.”

“I wanted to twist his head off,” his words were gruff, his arms opening reluctantly. “Your mother called about someone bothering the both of you. Nick was on his way to the bank, so I hitched a ride. Steve is a friend and we saw the whole thing.”

“I thought it was just a stupid guy who doesn’t understand the word no,” Brea flashed a crooked smile at him, her lips brushing his. “Gonna drive me home?” 259

“My pleasure,” he walked her around the SUV and lifted her to the seat, his gaze sweeping the inside. “Been shopping?”

“I have,” she said with a grin. “And I spoke with my friend who does real estate and she’s putting my parents place up for sale as well as my shop site. The bed and breakfast that’s next door is looking to expand, so it’ll be a quick sale for me and I’ll have the money for the property near the edge of town where the industrial park is and the entrance to the national park.” The words rushed out not only in her excitement but the underlying fear of what had just happened.

He reached past her and used one finger to lift the handles of the bag he knew came from a lingerie shop. One brow arched along with his cock.

“And this?”

“Just you never mind,” she laughed, taking the bag and putting it behind her in the back seat.

He let himself get lost in her explanations and descriptions of what she wanted the new shop to become as he drove along the coastal byway.

Jase wasn’t sure how she managed to calm him, soothe him from the fury that had raged in him when he saw her struck. Hard. Hell, they heard it from where they were running from across the street. He was just glad that Steve had been there. He wouldn’t have guaranteed Milford’s life if he hadn’t.

He listened, commenting very little and allowing the simple joy of her plotting her shop to override the anger that had been thrust into him and his wolf found a rough time dispelling.

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He felt the air shifting when he pulled to the back of the house by the kitchen entrance. Her mother saw them coming and was immediately down from the apartment, helping to unload and constantly trying to get Brea to talk. Jase helped unload and went to his office, checking emails, messages and regular mail.