The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [62]
He scowled and nudged Gabe away, looping his own arm around Honey and hauling her up possessively against him, regardless of her chagrined struggle. “Not exactly bait. You know I wouldn’t endanger her. But I want her to come right out and tell the bastard that she’s been followed, that she’s in hiding, that she damn well might go to the police despite her father’s absurd edict if she doesn’t get some answers. There’s a good chance Alden will slip up and give something away.”
Gabe gave a thoughtful nod. “It’s not a bad plan. If he’s innocent, we should be able to tell, don’t you think?”
“I would hope.”
Honey stepped away from both men. “Do I have any say-so in this?”
Sawyer looked at her warily. In the past two weeks he’d come to learn her moods well. Right now she was plenty peeved, and when Honey wasn’t happy, she had no qualms about letting them all know it. The fact that she was one small woman in a household of five large men didn’t appear to intimidate her one bit. “Uh…sure.”
“Then no. I’m not doing it. What if Alden is at the heart of it all? What if he traces the call? He’s certainly capable of doing that. Then the trouble could land right here at your own front door.”
“And you still don’t trust us to take care of you?” His temper started a slow boil; this was a constant bone of contention between them. “You think we’re all so helpless we’d let someone hurt you? That I’d let anyone hurt you?”
In a sudden burst of temper, she went on tiptoes and jutted her chin at Sawyer. “I’m not thinking of me, dammit! I’m thinking of you and your family!”
Gabe glanced at Sawyer, a comical look of disbelief on his face. “She’s trying to protect us?”
Sawyer crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, thoroughly bemused and annoyed. “Looks that way.”
Throwing her hands into the air, Honey shouted, “You’re not invincible!”
Sawyer rolled his eyes to the heavens. He wanted to shake her, and he wanted to take her back into the shed, slam the door on the world and make love to her again. Just that morning, right before dawn, he’d slipped into her bed and attempted to rouse her with gentle kisses and touches. But things always turned wild with Honey, no matter his resolve. When he’d left the room for his office shortly after seven o’clock, he’d been totally spent, and his legs had been shaking from the vigorous lovemaking they’d indulged in. Honey had gone soundly back to sleep. He’d never known a person who could sleep as hard and sound as she did. She’d be awake one moment, gone the next, especially after sex. A marching band could go through the room, and she wouldn’t stir so much as an eyelash.
Now, it felt like months since he’d touched her. He turned away. “We’re not dealing with organized crime, sweetheart. Buckhorn is a small county without a lot of need for reinforcements. It’s natural for us to rely on ourselves to take care of problems whenever possible. But until we figure out exactly who is after you, we’re helpless. Getting more information is the only sensible thing to do.”
She looked ready to kick dirt at him, then she turned on her heel and stomped back to the shed. Gabe stared after her. She went to the back of the car and opened the trunk.
“I can’t keep messing with her car much longer. She’s starting to get suspicious. If I don’t fix it soon, she’ll figure it out, or else she’ll decide I’m an inept idiot. I don’t relish either prospect.”
Sawyer’s smile was grim. “Yeah, you must’ve changed everything that can be changed by now.”
“Just about. Changing a few parts that had to be ordered was a stroke of genius, if I say so myself.” Gabe shrugged. “I don’t think she knows it’s in better running order now than ever, but to be on the safe side, I took a few wires off in case she decides to give it a try. I’m still not willing to trust her to stay put.”
“We can’t keep her here forever.”
Gabe rubbed some grease off his thumb, trying to look indifferent. But Sawyer heard the calculating tone to his words. “I don’t see why not.”
Sawyer sighed. “Because