“Ready for what?”
“You activated Guardian Protector mode.” She jabs a finger to where the box sat moments before “And the only reason he asked to see a picture of Scott is to canvass the streets for anyone who might have seen your dipshit ex.”
“I seriously doubt that’s why.”
“Remember that for later.” Carmen’s eyes twinkle with laughter.
“Later?”
“When I say I told you so.”
“Good grief, Carmen, you’re impossible.”
“Perhaps, but why not take a chance? Would it be so bad if you bagged yourself a Guardian?” She nudges me playfully.
“Like I said, you’re impossible.”
“Be that as it may, we’re both going to miss sunset if we don’t get to the roof soon. I came down to see what was keeping you.”
“The second round of pizzas kept me. I also moved the last of my things into Barbi’s room.”
“Awesome. Rosalie is overloaded with everything going on. If she forgets to say thank you, she’s very grateful.”
“She already did. And what about you? How are you feeling after everything that’s happened? Overloaded? Stressed to the max?”
“Processing. Sometimes it feels like it was a dream that happened to someone else, but then Rafe will say something, or the other guys will mention the rescue. That brings it all rushing back.”
“And your father?”
“He didn’t stay in prison long. Not that I thought he would. Too many of the police and prison officials owe him favors.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s just a matter of time.” She glances at her watch. “Speaking of time, we’ve got to hustle.”
Carmen pulls me upstairs to watch the sun go down, but all I can think about is Zeb. What’s he doing? Can he help with the whole Scott thing? Or is he only going to make things worse?
Once we’re on the roof, the brisk evening air greets us. We make our way to where the gang stares out over the city skyline. A few minutes pass, then the sound of someone coming up the fire escape draws my attention.
“Did I make it?” Zeb strides over to where we stand. A smile fills his face.
Carmen nudges me in the ribs and lowers her voice to a whisper. “That energy I was talking about. It’s back.”
My cheeks flush, but the rapidly darkening sky hides it from everyone but Zeb. Somehow, he zones in on it. I focus on the skyline, take a sip of wine, and do everything in my power not to make eye contact with Zeb.
He steps close and the warmth radiating off him makes my knees wobble. I shift to the side, taking a small step away from him, overwhelmed and desperately trying to regain some semblance of control over myself and my emotions.
I swore off men for the time being, and I’m not ready to jump into anything new. Especially when new means a Guardian who will go above and beyond to rescue me.
Zeb closes the distance between us, brushing my arm so lightly I can barely feel it. His warmth pulses through me like an electrical charge that sparks something within me. I bite my lip and hope he doesn’t notice my body’s response to him standing this close.
If I let things progress, it’s not a matter of whether things will get complicated. It’s a matter of when, and things will get not only complicated, but dangerous as well.
TEN
Zeb
The package with the dog shit inside sits uneasily on my mind. Whoever this Scott dude is, he crossed a line. From ex-lover to dangerous stalker and now open threats? I don’t think Kaye grasps exactly how dangerous such a man can become.
I do.
I take that seriously.
Very seriously.
I rejoin the rest of my teammates on the roof. Kaye’s roommates, Barbi, Carmen, and Rosalie are there, along with Forest and his unique throuple: Paul and Sara.
It’s quite an eclectic group, brought together by the founder of Guardian Hostage Rescue Specialists, Forest Summers. He’s the center of the web that connects us all.
I make the rounds, greeting Forest, Paul, and Sara. I wave to Kaye’s roommates who hold half-empty wine glasses and top off their wine. I hand out beer to my teammates.
This feels nice, but it’s missing something.
Everyone relaxes with their drink—beer or wine, depending on preference—while looking out across the cityscape of San Francisco. The city’s silhouetted against a tapestry of pink skies streaked with fire red and umber orange. With night approaching, shimmering lights appear here and there in the buildings as people flick on the lights.
A cool breeze blows in from the Bay, sweeping away the heat of the day. Overhead, there are enough clouds to make the sunset truly spectacular without blocking it completely.
Barbi lights up a gas-fed fire pit, along with several heating towers, to push back the chill of the night as it rushes in. People gather around the fire pit, laughing, joking, having fun.
Kaye hangs back from the others, standing near the edge of the roof. She stares outward, scanning the skyline, brows tugged tight as if in deep thought. The last light of the setting sun highlights her angelic features, bathing her in a golden glow.
Damn, but she takes my breath away.
Knowing I’m going to get shit from the guys, and not caring one damn bit, I cross the distance to stand by her side.
“Hey.” I nudge her with my shoulder.
It’s a friendly touch, an incursion into her personal space, and a test. If she pulls away, I need to reevaluate. If she leans into me, I’ll continue exploring where this night might take us.
“Hey.” She doesn’t pull away, but neither does she lean into me. It’s noncommittal which means I need to step up my game.
“Still thinking about the package Scott sent?” I normally wouldn’t bring up an ex’s name in conversation, but she’s clearly rattled by the way things are escalating.
“I am.” She turns to me, brows furrowed, lips pressed into a tight line. “Do you believe he’s dangerous? Is this something I need to be worried about?”
“Not knowing much about your relationship, that’s hard to say one way or the other, but those texts concern me and the box speaks for itself.”
“I don’t know what to do.” She hugs her arms, staving off the chilly night. “Do I call him? Ignore him?”
“Calling him will only give him an opportunity to…”
“Undermine my decision to break up with him.” She finishes my sentence, showing healthy insight.
I like that about a woman. Kaye’s a thinker.
“That’s what my head tells me. Stand strong. Be resolute. But not talking to him…” Her voice cracks. She holds up her phone and scrolls through his texts. “Not talking to him isn’t making things any better. It’s making things worse. I don’t know what to do.”
Her personal insight only serves to intrigue me further. She’s a remarkable individual.
An unexpected, but welcome, warmth courses through my veins as I look upon Kaye. I can almost block out everyone else on the roof, and forget they’re here.
“In cases like this, it’s best not to engage.” It’s the best advice, but hardest to follow.