Guarding Raine (Security Ops) (20 page)

“You can try,” Mac invited. “But just because you stop signing the checks doesn’t mean I’ll be out of the picture. I gave my word that I’d stay with Raine until this thing is over, and you can’t stop me.”

Simon glared at him. “You’re as stubborn as your old man was.”

“No,” Mac contradicted. “I’m much worse. The stakes have been raised, Simon. There’s no doubt that Raine was set up last week. Whoever called knew just what to say to take her off guard, to lure her away from the house. What’s left of her car testifies to the dangerous twist this case is taking.” He watched Simon visibly pale and drop into his seat. “Yesterday another letter came. The detective took it, and the envelope, back to headquarters. He’ll be turning it over to the Postal Inspection Service. Their investigators may be able to use the postmark to pinpoint the locale the letter was mailed from. They need to be aware that Burnett is a suspect in the case. All the information we have has to be available to them. Otherwise you’ll be tying their hands. That’s not fair to Raine.”

Simon rubbed his hands over his face. Suddenly he looked like a frightened old man. “I wanted to spare her this,” he muttered. “If it hasn’t occurred to her that Burnett could be involved, I don’t want to get her thinking about it again.”

“You can’t protect her from her thoughts, Simon,” Mac said quietly. The man still didn’t seem to understand that his keeping silent about the attack hadn’t helped Raine forget about it. Just the opposite, in fact.

Simon sighed and clasped his hands on the desk in front of him. He contemplated them for a long time before looking at Mac. “All right. I’ll put this into your hands, all of it. If you think the police need to be told about Burnett—” he gestured to the file Mac was holding “—go ahead.”

“I don’t see any other way.”

Simon nodded. “I’m going to continue with that investigator who’s watching Burnett, of course.”

Mac agreed soberly. “I’d like to see the weekly reports you get on him.” He’d feel better himself knowing someone was keeping tabs on the bastard who’d hurt Raine.

He began walking to the door, but Simon’s voice stopped him.

“Mac.”

He turned inquiringly.

“I’m trusting you to keep my daughter safe.”

Mac exchanged a long, meaningful glance with the man. Simon was putting full trust in Mac because he had no other choice. But Mac could understand his desperation. The promise he made then was a vow as much to himself as to the other man.

“I won’t allow her to be hurt again.”

Chapter 10

Mac went quickly through the file when he arrived at Raine’s house. It was complete and detailed, and there was absolutely nothing in it to indicate Burnett’s involvement in Raine’s case. The day she’d been run off the road, he’d been followed going to work.

Mac picked up the phone, called Ramirez and told him about Burnett. The detective was noticeably unhappy about the information that had been withheld from him. Mac could understand the feeling. Promising the detective that a copy of the file would be in his hands in a couple of hours, Mac hung up.

The radio on his desk crackled. “A car’s coming up the drive, Mac. It’s Sarah Jennings.”

“Got it,” Mac answered. He spoke to the employee a minute longer, giving him the job of copying and delivering the file. Then he rose and went to the front door. Sarah was just getting out of her bright red convertible sports car.

“Well, hi,” she greeted him as she slammed the door. She raised a graceful hand to push her long blond hair from her face. “I’m surprised to see you still here.”

Mac went out and leaned against a post of the porch. “You’re not working today?”

She made a face as she bounced up the porch steps. “Oh, work. Today was too gorgeous to be stuck inside. I decided to come by and see if I could tempt Raine into playing hooky with me. Maybe we could drive along the coast, go to the beach.” She gave an artful shrug. “I’m open to suggestions. As long as it’s outside.”

Mac frowned. “Raine’s up in her studio. She’s pretty busy getting her last painting done for the show. I’m not sure she should be disturbed.”

Sarah opened her eyes wide. “Well, listen to you! You sound like André’s clone. He didn’t send you out here to keep Raine’s nose to the grindstone, did he?”

Mac snorted. “Not hardly.”

“Well, what André doesn’t know won’t hurt him. And I’m going to take Raine with me, if I can manage to steal her away. She needs a break even worse than I do, with all that’s happened around here lately.” She cocked her head to look at him coquettishly. “You’re welcome to come along, if you like. I have absolutely nothing against sharing sunny California days with dangerously attractive men.”

Mac surveyed her through narrowed eyes. A month ago this woman’s blatant interest would have been returned, tenfold. Hell, a month ago he’d have asked someone just like her to accompany him on that tropical vacation he’d been planning. But a lot seemed to have changed in the past few weeks, not the least of which was his preference for voluptuous blondes with bust sizes that rivaled their IQ. That was before he’d seen a pair of wide vulnerable eyes of the rarest gold. It was before he’d witnessed the gut-clenching sight of a woman who put herself back together time after time, no matter what life threw at her.

It was before he’d met Raine.

Not responding to her invitation, he pushed himself away from the post. “Suit yourself. You can talk to her. She won’t be going anywhere, though. I guarantee it.” He walked into the house and entered the office.

Sarah raised her eyebrows at his terse response and ran lightly up the stairs and down the hall. Breezing into the studio, she said, “Surprise! I hope you’re going to be a little more welcoming than Mac was. He seems to think he’s taken over André’s job as your watchdog during working hours.”

Raine looked around at her entrance, smiled and put down her brush. “Sarah!” She picked up a rag to wipe her hands before going over to give her friend a hug. “It’s good to see you.”

“Yeah, well, maybe you better tell that to Mac. He was positively taciturn downstairs. Of course, I don’t have anything against silent men. Not talking does leave their mouths free to do, shall we say, more interesting things, so they have their good qualities. And Mr. O’Neill has a few good qualities of his own.” She paused to take a breath. “What’s he still doing here, anyway? How much more work is there to be done?”

Raine bit her lip at the question. It was as straightforward as Sarah herself and demanded an equally straightforward answer. She searched frantically for words that wouldn’t be an out-and-out lie but would satisfy her friend. Before she could think of any, Sarah’s eyes lit on the half-finished canvas beyond Raine.

“That’s a different painting for you. Does André know? He’ll throw a tantrum if he doesn’t.” She fell suddenly silent as she recognized the person in the painting. She sent a surprised glance to her friend. “So, that’s what Mac O’Neill is doing around here. He’s your live model, hmm?”

“Not exactly.” Raine led her friend out of the studio and down the stairs, hoping she’d drop the subject. But no such luck.

“Well, there’s certainly something more going on here than installing a few alarms. Oh, don’t worry.” She waved her hand. “I won’t pry. But he’s exactly the opposite of the men you’ve dated in the past. I hope you’re not getting in over your head.”

“You’re jumping to conclusions,” Raine said flatly. Despite her need to give Sarah a reasonable explanation for Mac’s continued presence, she didn’t want to give her friend the idea that there was something romantic going on between her and Mac, either. Although she’d welcome the possibility, he’d made his feelings clear. And having Sarah blurt out something embarrassing in front of him would be even more humiliating.

“Now it all makes sense,” Sarah said wisely. “No wonder he was so darn protective of you when we were talking downstairs. He was afraid I was going to whisk you away from him today. When I mentioned kidnapping you and running up to the coast, he positively glowered at me.”

“Sarah,” Raine said in exasperation. “The real reason Mac is here is—”

“Sarah’s already guessed the reason, honey. No need to pretend.” Mac was lounging in the doorway of the office. It was clear he’d heard at least part of the conversation. “You’re going to make me think you’re ashamed of me.”

“I don’t— I’m not—” stammered Raine.

“Good.” His voice was satisfied male animal, and so was the smile on his lips. He sauntered toward them and bent to press an intimate kiss against Raine’s astonished mouth. Raising his head, he dropped an arm around her shoulders and addressed the other woman. “You’re right, Sarah. If Raine is done working for the day, I’m going to claim the rest of her time for myself. Hope you don’t mind.”

Sarah was eyeing the two of them speculatively. “Not at all. If you can distract Raine from the craziness in her life lately, more power to you.”

Raine smiled weakly and slipped out from beneath his arm. “I’m going to walk Sarah out to her car. I’ll be right back.”

Outside, Sarah sent her an amused glance. “No need to ask what you’ve been up to lately! He seems pretty possessive already.”

“We’ve . . . we’re really just getting to know each other,” Raine answered lamely, mentally cursing Mac for the earlier scene.

“You don’t have to explain things to me.” Sarah laughed as she got into the car. “I’m just glad things are looking up for you, for a change.” Her face grew sober. “They are looking up, aren’t they, Raine? You haven’t gotten any more of those letters, have you?”

“As a matter of fact—” Raine took a deep breath “—I got another yesterday.”

“Oh, no!” Sarah exclaimed in concern. “Are you okay? It didn’t upset you, I hope.”

“I’m fine.”

“Well, if you want me to come out and stay with you, just give me a call. Anytime. I don’t like the thought of you here all by yourself, new security system or not.” Sarah frowned. “Or maybe you should come to my place for a while. You know I’ve got plenty of room.”

“I’m going to stay put. But thanks for the offer.”

“Raine . . .” Sarah hesitated, visibly uncomfortable. Then she sighed and said, “Are you sure you’re going to be able to get ready for your show on time? What I mean is, maybe you should think about postponing it. Heavens, no one would blame you with all that’s happened to you lately.”

“No.” Raine’s voice was determined. “I’ll be ready in time for the show, and I’m not going to let these letters disrupt my life.”

Sarah still looked unconvinced. “At least promise me you’ll call if you need anything, all right?”

Agreeing with a smile, Raine gave her friend another hug before Sarah slipped into the car and roared away.

Raine’s shoulders slumped. She wasn’t cut out for this kind of subterfuge, and the pretense had taken more out of her than she’d realized. Of course, Mac’s little act hadn’t helped. When he’d dropped that kiss on her mouth, her knees had very nearly given out. Straightening, she turned to the house. There was a curious pain in knowing how easily he could slip into the role of lover. Especially in light of how stringently he’d been resisting just such a role since the night they’d made love.

At least,
she’d
made love. She knew it had been something much less for him, but she had to face, at least, what she was feeling. She’d wondered why this man had had such an effect on her, why he could circumvent her customary reactions on all fronts. Now she had to face the reason.

She was in love with Macauley O’Neill.

The acknowledgment brought more pain than joy. Because she already knew that the gift of her love couldn’t be offered to him. It wouldn’t be something that would elicit a like emotion. Instead, it would cause him guilt and regret. She didn’t want to lay that burden on him, didn’t want to add to the load of conscience he was already struggling under.

She climbed the porch steps. Mac was standing in the doorway, but he stood aside to let her by. She hurt with a curious kind of pain thinking of his touch a few minutes ago. Knowing he was pretending hadn’t diminished the pleasure, and that made her feel naive and foolish. She said nothing, and headed up the hallway stairs.

“Wait,” he commanded.

She stopped and turned inquiringly.

“I didn’t hear the whole conversation, but she seemed to be grilling you pretty good. What did you tell her?”

“Don’t worry,” she said, her voice stinging. “She’d already jumped to the wrong conclusion and your little act was very convincing, Your talents are wasted in security. You ought to be on stage.”

“Raine.”

“What? Don’t think I didn’t appreciate your efforts on my behalf, because it
was
an effort, wasn’t it? I hope you won’t be called on again for a repeat performance. I don’t know what the big deal is, anyway. Why can’t I tell my friends that you were also hired as a bodyguard? What do you hope to gain by keeping that secret?”

“The element of surprise.”

She rolled her eyes. “That sounds like something important in tactical warfare, but of little real value in this instance. I’ve told you, my friends are not involved in these threats. You don’t really expect me to believe that one of them tried to kill me, do you?”

Her voice held a dare, and a note of vulnerability. He chose his words carefully. “The fewer people who know I’m here, the better. If the harasser thinks you’re alone, and vulnerable, he might make a mistake. And if he does, I’ll be here to nail him.” Her only response was a long, cool look. He strode forward and snared her wrist when she would have turned and continued up the stairs. Something about the set of those narrow shoulders provoked a reaction from him.

“Don’t turn your back on me, dammit. You want to know about effort? You want to see pretense?” His words were edged in steel. “It’s an effort every damn minute, being in this house and not touching you again. Knowing just how big a jerk I was to ever lay a hand on you that night doesn’t keep me from wanting more. Taking more. So don’t talk to me about pretending. Lady, I’m acting for all I’m worth, and the act is wearing damn thin.”

His jaw was tight with emotion, and more than anything she wanted to cradle it in her hand. “You don’t have to,” she said achingly. “I’m right here. You don’t have to be noble. Just reach out and take what you want.”

He dropped her hand. “I can’t do that.” His voice was bleak. “I don’t have the right.”

His words made her angry. “Forget rights, Macauley! You don’t have to earn happiness, it just is! But you do have to reach out and take it when you have the chance, because it doesn’t happen by every other minute. Don’t throw it away.”
Don’t throw me away
, she cried silently.

“I’ve done a lot of things in my life,” he replied. “My father could see what was happening to me long before I realized it myself. He tried to tell me often enough. ‘Son,’ he’d say, ‘that job is eating you alive, from the inside out.’ And he was right. I lost the capacity to tell which decisions were right because they were my job, and which were right because they
were
. But I know that walking away from you when this is over is right. You’ve had too much unhappiness in your life already, and I’ll be damned if I’ll add a broken-down soldier with an iced-over soul to your list. You can’t fix what’s broken inside me. You’re good, honey, but even you aren’t that good.”

“No, I can’t fix what’s wrong,” she agreed. “You have to do that. But what’s the matter with my being by your side while you heal? No one knows better than I do how good it would feel to reach out during that time for someone standing with you.”

“I can’t ask that of you,” he said, his voice flat. “And I won’t. I have a little self-respect left.” Damn little, he could have added as he turned and strode away from her, away from temptation. Just enough to remind himself that the second-best thing he could do for Raine Michaels was to stay as far away from her as possible.