None of the men acted as if she’d overreacted. Other than Scott, who’d stayed close until convincing her it was safe to return to bed, the men had treated her as if her behavior was normal.
Scott had reported Boomer and Iggy were repositioned closer to the house, and Mitch, with Kell’s approval, had brought in two more of his men to increase security. Brittany was impressed at the speed of their response to the one sentence email. Their actions underscored what her hacker friend had turned up on the Eternal Brethren.
WES was different. Those men were part of a company providing security and bodyguard services. Nothing clandestine about them.
Mitch had told her most were ex-military, primarily Special Forces from different branches. Unlike the Brethren, the majority working for Kell and him weren’t married, making deployment a little easier, as there were no families to worry about. Although he’d admitted marriage and children hadn’t slowed up the Brethren from deploying on the most difficult missions. His respect for them was clear.
Trying to get her head on straight, she read the document on the screen. A speech she’d worked on before the explosion at her apartment. The senator would need it this Saturday, and Holden required time to vet all communications, whether presented by her or a staff member.
Punching the keys, she spent another hour perfecting and polishing the speech. Reading it another time, Brittany felt confident in her work. She hadn’t written an official communication in a long time, since she’d worked as an intern for her father.
Preparing an email, she attached the document, copying herself before sending. She turned to the next project. After another hour, Brittany stretched her arms high above her head, letting out a groan. Picking up her coffee cup, her mouth twisted at the empty interior.
Walking to the kitchen, confusion surrounded her at the sudden realization she might be alone in the house. Loading an individual cup into the single serving machine, she pondered her next move. Search the house or go back to her room and work. Stirring milk into her coffee, she decided to start with Scott’s room.
As suspected, it was empty. Other than the bedrooms and his office, all with doors, the rest of the house was open. Heading to his study, the location of all his electronic equipment, she checked each room. One had twin beds, both unmade and empty.
Not expecting to find anyone, she pushed the office door open. Everything appeared the same as the night before, but the room was empty. Fear began to spider up her spine. Shouldn’t at least one man be inside the house with her?
Rushing toward the entry, she took a cursory look outside before stepping onto the wrap-around porch. Brittany walked to one side of the house, then the other. When no one appeared, she hurried down the steps and to the drive where the bikes were parked.
“They have to be here somewhere.” A few seconds after the words left her mouth, she heard footfalls coming from the side of the house.
“What the hell are you doing outside?” Scott’s angry shout startled her.
She took a few steps back, then stopped, fuming. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. “The real question is, where the hell is everyone? I checked the entire house and found no one.”
Stopping a few feet away, he allowed himself a moment to cool down. He’d gone inside, expecting her to be in the bedroom. When she wasn’t there, nor any place else in the house, he’d rushed out the family room doors to the patio, then ran to the front. She’d almost given him a heart attack.
“Where’s your phone?”
Confusion lifted her brows. “Phone?”
“You know. The one Dani set up for you. The one with my number and Mitch’s programmed into it?”
She ran her hands over the pockets of her pants, face heating. Why hadn’t she thought to just call one of them? “It’s, uh…on the desk in my bedroom.”
Reaching into his pocket, he held it out. “I saw it when I searched for you.” Handing it over, his features softened. “Keep it with you. If you don’t find us in the house, call instead of coming outside alone.”
Tamping down her anger, she tightened her grip on the phone. “I went less than fifteen feet from the porch.”
“It would take a lot less time to grab you and disappear.” He walked past her, making a slow turn before facing her again. “We know nothing about the people threatening you and your father other than they’re serious. We’re more so. If you can’t find us in the house, call. If we don’t pick up, stay in your room, lock the door, and call again.” Placing his hands on her shoulders, he waited until she met his gaze. “We will not leave you without protection, Brit.”
Bending, he brushed a kiss across her lips, startling her. She didn’t respond until he did it again, lingering long enough for their tongues to dance about before lifting his head.
Lifting a finger, she touched her lips, voice lowering to a whisper. “Why do you keep doing that?”
The look on his face showed his own confusion. Staring at her for a moment, he looked away. “Honestly, I don’t know.” Dropping his hands, he turned toward the house. “Let’s get you inside.” Before he could get a foot away, Brittany gripped his arm.
“That’s not an answer.” Her voice had changed to demanding. “I want to know why you keep kissing me when it’s obvious it’s not what you want.” Releasing him, she placed fisted hands on her hips. “Don’t lie to me, Scott.”
His lips twitched. It had been a game they used to play. They’d asked questions, calling out the other if they believed the answer was a lie. Silly questions which meant little. Their favorite color, animal, place to eat. Not once had he been able to pull off his lies. What she asked today was much more serious than their game of the past.
“Let it go, Brit. You don’t want to hear it.”
“I’m not the weak-willed girl from before. Whatever it is you have to say, I want to hear it.”
“All right, but not here.” He took her hand, leading her through the house to his bedroom, closing the door behind him. Without releasing her, he called Mitch. “I’ve got Brittany with me.”
“Good to know.”
When Mitch ended the call, Fuse ground his teeth together. This wasn’t the time or place. Although getting it out in the open might be best.
“I still want you, Brittany. I’ve always wanted you.”
A small smile curved her lips, hope spreading through her. If he wanted her, then he must still love her. “And that’s bad?”
“It is.” There wasn’t a bit of warmth in his voice. The hope she felt seconds before began to evaporate.
“Why is it bad?”
“I’d be a fool not to want you. You’re stunning, smart, with a great body. I’ll bet you could hook up with any man you wanted.” He saw a flush creep up her face, a storm brewing in her eyes. “The thing is, I think you might want more than a few sweaty nights together. If that’s the case, you need to know anything long term isn’t going to happen.”
Hands clenching at her sides, she swallowed the hurt his comment prompted, lifting her chin. “Oh?”
“You and I are never happening again. There’d be no love and no expectation of it, as those feelings for you are long gone.” He waited a moment for her to absorb his words, a little surprised when she didn’t take her gaze away from his. “You want sex with no expectations, I’m your man. A few days or weeks, for as long as the threat continues. When you’re safe, that’s when it ends. Do you get me?”