Bounty's End (Bounty for Hire) Read online

  “Seriously. You are as bad as Keylee,” he retorted, shaking his head. Those two were forever hounding him about Wen. He really could not fault them. He did have it bad for her, though he wasn’t ready to admit it to his family just how bad he had it. “You okay here ’till Alek gets back?” Thomas asked his brother.

  “Yeah, man, I am. Go ahead, I can hold out ’till he gets back. Good luck with Wen.” Thomas saw the smile cross Jefferson’s face just before turning to leave.

  “Later, Tess,” he yelled, waving to her on his way out.

  As Thomas got on his motorcycle and drove over to Wen’s house, he thought about how important it was for him to get out of this business. He’d gotten out of the military when his contract was up, mainly because of Keylee, but if he was honest, he’d also gotten out because he was tired of being gone for god only knew how long, which kept him from having a relationship. He was ready to settle down. If that person was Wen, then he could not be happier. But until he had that coffee date with her, it was not a good thing to plan so far ahead. Besides, he was starting to sound like a girl. Time to turn his attention to why Wen was so upset.

  * * *

  Wen hadn’t really wanted to call Thomas. She had been going out of her way to avoid him. Where he, on the other hand, did everything to contact her. She knew the moment they shook hands six months ago when he introduced himself, and then proceeded to help her move some furniture, that she needed to stay away. She was hit with a shock of electricity that at first she thought it was static. No big deal, right?

  Oh, how wrong she was. The entire time he was in her house, all she could do was think about that jolt she received. It wasn’t until later, after the couch was moved and sweat clung to his shirt, she thought about ripping that shirt off of his body and licking his well-defined chest. It was love at first sight. Something she did not believe in, but it was like one of those moments you would see in commercials where a guy looked at the girl and ‘bam’, instance love. She wanted to laugh, because that never happened with her until that moment. It was dangerous and she needed to stay away. And she had.

  She wanted to blame it on his eyes. It was the first thing she noticed about him. He had this ability to draw her in with his deep chocolate eyes. She did not need his kind of trouble, or at least the trouble she thought he would bring.

  She should consider it stalking, but it was actually nice the way he went about contacting her. Once a week, on random days, she got flowers. When he was out on a job, he would text her. He even made up lame excuses of packages being delivered to come over and see her. She had to give him credit—he was really going out of his way. If she was honest, it was nice to feel wanted like that again. He’d finally worn her down and she caved to coffee. When she saw his face light up with a smile when she agreed, it made her weak in the knees. He had such a gorgeous smile. When he left, she felt happiness seep through her body.

  All that happiness faded when she was outside watering her flowers earlier this evening. That stupid car drove by again. She couldn’t take it. She needed to call someone and the only person she wanted was Thomas. She knew that he would make everything okay.

  She would have asked her family for help, but she just could not bring herself to do it. Thomas always said that if she needed help, no matter what, to call him and there she was, waiting for him to arrive at her house. She could only hope that he was willing to help her with this stalker, or what she believed to be a stalker.

  Ten minutes of pacing her living room finally found Wen leaning against the front door waiting. When she heard footsteps approaching quickly, she moved to look through the peephole and saw his beautiful dark chocolate eyes first.

  “Wen, honey. It’s me, Thomas. You can open up now.”

  What a thing to say. Open up. If he only knew what she wanted to open up. Slowly opening the door, she saw the bright white smile that was plastered on his face. It looked as though he hadn’t shaved in a few days and was sporting a dark black scruffy beard. Dark sunglasses were pushed up on his head. His dark brown hair was ruffled, no doubt from the motorcycle helmet he carried in his hand.

  “Come in,” Wen finally replied, moving to the side, allowing him to pass by her. She didn’t move away far enough, because his arm brushed lightly across her breast. Forcing herself not to shiver, she just smiled up at him. Closing the door, she gently placed her head against the large oak door.

  Deep breaths, she had to remind herself.

  When she turned around, Wen collided with Thomas’s chest. Faltering a step back, she felt his hands come around her shoulders bracing her.

  “Easy now.” His voice was low, but his hands firm.

  Not willing to look him in the eyes, she kept her face down. She was afraid if she did sneak a peek, she would have to kiss his thick lips that have been calling to her for six months—morning, noon and especially at night.

  “Thanks for coming.” Wen finally found her voice as she led him over to the couch to be seated beside her.

  “Not a problem. You want to tell me what the problem is, and why you didn’t say anything earlier?”

  Not really, she wanted to say. However something entirely different came out.

  “Thomas, I’m sorry to bother you with this, but honestly, I am not sure if I am going crazy or if I am really being stalked.”

  “Tell me what is going on,” he probed for her to continue.

  “I think I am being followed,” she confessed.

  Chapter 3

  Thomas could not believe the words that came out of her mouth. Was she serious? Every muscle in his body went on high alert, ready to take down who was responsible. Without realizing it, he found himself reaching for Wen’s hand and holding it strong within his.

  Her beautiful tanned skin sparkled in the sunlight that peered through the big bay window. Her cheekbones were high and well defined. A hint of shimmering golden blush made its appearance. Her long black eyelashes helped to mask her deep brown eyes. Letting his gaze sweep to her lips, he took his free hand and gently placed it on her chin, tilting her face up to meet his.

  “Tell me everything,” he whispered.

  He listened closely as she went about explaining how a few months ago her parent’s antique store had been ransacked. He knew about this only because he’d stopped in to see Mr. Snow, Wen’s adoptive father, about a gift for Keylee. It was then that Mr. Snow told him about the break-in.

  “Since the store’s break-in, I’ve felt like every time I was at the antique shop, I would see this same car just outside of the window, and when I left there, that same car seems to follow me home. It had never pulled into our street, since we live in a cul-de-sac. I would wait in my car until I felt like the car was gone. That was, until today, when it slowly drove by my house while I was outside watering plants.”

  “When did you first notice you were being followed?”

  “I don’t know. I really think since my parent’s store was trashed. I honestly tried not to think about it. You know how it is; you see one car, then all the cars look the same. It was like, I would see the car and then poof,” her hands went up in demonstration, “the car was gone. Other days, like I said, I would see it follow me home and when I turned into the driveway, it just kept going. Then today…Thomas, oh god, it freaked me out.” He heard the tremor in her voice.

  Ah, hell.

  “Peaches here with you?” Thomas found himself asking where her American bulldog was, because the worry lines on her face just did not sit well with him.

  “She’s in the backyard.”

  His hand never left her face. His thumb caressed her lower lip.

  “Keep her inside with you when you can. I know how she likes the backyard, but keep her inside, all right, babe?” Thomas suggested gently. He wanted her to feel reassured. So he pulled her into his arms and held her close. Feeling her face in his neck, he held her while she cried. “Let it out, baby,” he said as he held her close while she continued to cry.

 
“I’m sorry, Thomas. It--it has just been so much. I couldn’t tell my parents because it would just worry them. I thought about the police, but I didn’t want to go to them if I was just seeing things.”

  At this point, Thomas felt her move out of his embrace and watched her just stare at the floor.

  “You know, I think I was okay with being paranoid, but this is a whole different thing,” she continued. “I don’t know whether to call the police, or just wait it out to see what happens, because like I said, maybe I am just paranoid. I just knew that I needed you here.”

  Thomas liked hearing that she needed him here with her. It warmed his heart. Men were not supposed to be mushy, but one thing his mother taught him was that it was better to understand your feelings than hide from them. It was one of the damned reason he pushed contact on with Wen. He felt something when they touched, and holding her just now, he’d felt it again.

  When she started to laugh, it brought him out of his daze. Leaning back to look at her, he noticed how her checks were stained with tears and her face was flushed.

  “Listen, I’m going to tell you a secret that they tell you in the military and probably elsewhere. If you feel like you are being watched or you feel like you are in danger, nine times out of ten you truly are. Go with your gut.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, but honestly, why? Why would I feel like I am in danger? I work at a freaking antique’s store, for Christ’s sake.”

  “I don’t know, baby, but I will tell you that I’ll find out what’s going on, and I will keep you safe,” he declared.

  “Thomas.”

  He finished speaking just as Wen said his name and threw herself into his body once again, knocking him down flat on his back against the couch.

  “I’m sorry this is happening, Wen,” he murmured against her head while he rubbed his hands up and down her thin white cotton shirt.

  They stayed there together on the couch with his arms wrapped tightly around her small body, not saying word.

  What could be said at a moment like this? Thomas wanted to declare to her that everything would be all right, or at least tell her that it was a car looking at houses in the area. Which could be a possibility. He held all this back because somewhere she was frightened and he believed in what he told her. If you feel frightened, then there is a reason to feel that way.

  So he gave her what he could at this moment. He gave her his warmth. Holding her close, silently letting her know that all would be okay.

  * * *

  Wen didn’t know what made her throw herself onto him, but lying on top of his body, with his large warm arms engulfing her made her feel wonderfully safe.

  They had only known each other six months, but really, they didn’t know each other. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop her from feeling the warmth and care he was passing onto her. There was something about him holding her that made her skin tingle with need. Yes, Thomas did this and so much more. She needed his hands on her, never leaving her.

  It took all she had not to make the first move. Was it a bad thing to start kissing a guy just after calling him and freaking out? Yeah, it probably was, but it wasn’t as if their tension had not been building.

  “You think I could use this as our coffee date?” She decided to ask, as a way to stop thinking about getting naked with the sexy man under her body.

  “I don’t think so, Wen. I am taking you out for a date. A date where I can pick you up, enjoy your company, bring you home and kiss you goodnight.”

  “That’s not really a coffee date, and I know I agreed to coffee only,” she emphasized teasingly.

  “That was earlier, baby. All that changed when you called me and you said you needed me here.”

  Wen heard his words and the command in his voice.

  Was it a bad thing to get turned on by a man’s commanding voice? Oh well, as much as she wanted him, she had other things she needed to think about.

  Wen was ready to push herself up when she suddenly let out “oomph” as Thomas pulled her back into his body.

  “Hey, I need to get up,” she nearly whined.

  “No, you don’t. Besides, I’m comfortable, and you and I are going to talk about this date of ours.”

  “Oh, I don’t—”

  “Wen, yes we are.” She felt his hands come up to her head, lightly brushing her hair with his fingers. “First, we are going to order some pizza, talk, and get to know each other. And guess what, babe? I am spending the night.”

  “Oh, I don’t—”

  “Don’t argue. I’ll stay the night and be a perfect gentleman. I’ll even sleep on the couch, unless you want me closer to protect you.”

  Thomas watched as Wen quickly picked up one of her bright colored red pillows from the couch before she launched it at his head.

  “Jerk,” she said with laughter.

  “Order the pizza, babe.”

  He watched as she left the living room and strolled into the kitchen. Reaching down into his pocket to make a call, he was caught off guard when it rang and he saw that it was Keylee calling.

  “Hey, sis.”

  “Back at you. Wanted to let you know that I made it. Since it’s late, I’m crashing at some little bed and breakfast, that I have to tell you is the cutest place I’ve ever seen. The lady even told me at check-in that they had Andes Mints on the pillows and I have to say they totally did.”

  Though he was glad to hear from his sister, he however, was not interested in her rambling as she oftentimes did.

  “That’s great, Keylee. Keep me updated.”

  “Okay, love you, you dope.”

  “You too, baby dope.” And he hung up.

  As he put the phone away, he lost his thoughts as he watched Wen come back into the room with a couple of pillows and some blankets.

  “I put a pizza in the oven instead of calling out. Give it fifteen and it should be done.”

  “Works for me. I take it that your armload is for me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Set it down for now. While we wait for pizza, let’s talk.”

  The rest of the night wore on as he and Wen talked about college and dreams as kids. They talked about being an only child verses having siblings. They laughed most of the night and that was exactly what he wanted for her.

  When she said goodnight as she walked toward her room, she left him there in the darkness of the living room. All he could do was force his body to stay still and calm as he fought to go to her room. To lay down beside her and hold her close. Nothing needed to happen; he just needed to feel her in his arms. As he rested on the couch, his last thought was of her in his arms just before sleep overtook him.

  Chapter 4

  Hearing light footsteps from the other side of the couch made Thomas wonder if Wen thought he was still asleep. Deciding that was the case as he continued to hear her light steps, he sat straight into a sitting position, watching as she came around the couch to place her cell phone and what looked like a small cup of coffee on the dark mahogany coffee table.

  Thomas stared sleepily at her for a moment before rubbing his eyes trying to get the sleep out of them. He then stood up from the couch and stretched his body. From raising his arms above his head, he was able to get some of the kinks out of his muscles he’d gotten from sleeping on the couch.

  Smelling the coffee made his mouth water. There was nothing like a strong cup of coffee first thing in the morning. It was also a great time when there was silence in the house. Nothing but you and that cup, before the chaos of life intruded.

  Turning his body, he made his way to the kitchen, willing his morning rise to go down before Wen got a good look at him. It was nothing to be embarrassed about, but still, those dreams he had about Wen between his legs and riding him hard… Well, needless to say, those dreams were presenting themselves bright and early this morning.

  When he reached the silver and black Mr. Coffee pot, Thomas saw that Wen had already placed a cup in front of the pot for him. All it needed w
as for him to pour and start drinking. After taking his first drink, he sucked in a deep breath and slowly let it out before he made his way back into the living room. He heard the ringing of her phone.

  There was a sense of worry in her tone. As much as his instincts screamed to rush to her and offer her comfort, Thomas decided the best course would be to hang back and be here for her.

  Standing back, he allowed her the time and privacy for her to take the call.

  * * *

  “Wen?” When those words came through the phone, she had to pull the phone away from her ear. Wow, that was loud.

  “Yes, Dad?”

  “Oh, thank goodness, darling.” There was something in his voice that made her stop from asking what was wrong. Which happened to be a good thing, seeing as her father proceeded to talk.

  “Honey, don’t come in to the store today. There was another break-in. Looks like it happened sometime last night.”

  Man, this was getting to be too much. “What do you mean, there was another break-in? Seriously, Dad, this is becoming too much. Do you need me there? Screw that. I am coming to you. You better hope there is a new cop there, because I plan on giving those stupid, good for nothing police officers a piece of my mind. I mean, what kind of atrocity is going to have to take place for them to find this sick ass who is doing this?”

  “Wen, enough.” Her father’s voice was sharp and final. Yeah, she better shut up now, but how could she not worry?

  “Dad?” Her voice was small.

  “Honey, there is nothing you can do that your mother and I can’t take of. I’m just glad that you were home and not here at the shop.”

  She just could not believe this. Her poor parents. She went to sit on the couch and listen as her father proceeded to explain about how the display cases were smashed and it looked like a few bracelets had been taken. Those that were what he considered valuable. She looked up to see that Thomas was strolling in, concern marred on his face.