Wanted: Bodyguard

Thoughts of Joe brought with them a sliver of residual grief. He’d been her childhood sweetheart, the only boy she’d dated through high school, the only man she’d ever been intimate with. When they had married she’d thought they’d be together forever. She’d never foreseen the rocky road ahead and his untimely death.

His life insurance policy had been enough to pay off the house and put a little nest egg away. For the last year Lana had managed to eke out a simple living with the sale of her handcrafted jewelry.

“Mommy, I want down.” Haley raised her arms to get out of the booster seat.

So much for getting any work done today, she thought as she lifted Haley to the floor. The rest of the afternoon would consist of her chasing Haley and making sure she didn’t get into Riley’s way.

Thankfully, for the remainder of the afternoon Riley stayed in the guest bedroom with the door closed and Lana alternated playing with Haley and preparing the evening meal. She’d decided to do hamburgers out on the grill. That and a bag of chips was all Mr. Hot FBI Agent was going to get.

At six o’clock she took Haley to the backyard and sat her in the shaded sandbox where she loved to play, then cranked up the grill.

As she waited for it to get to the right temperature, her gaze drifted to the house next door. Was it possible that beneath Gary’s affable, pleasant outward personality lay the dark soul of a killer?

Despite the warm July air, a chill snaked up her spine. How many times had she read about serial killers and how their neighbors were stunned and appalled to discover that the good old boy next door was actually a crazed murderer?

She supposed there was no danger as long as Gary didn’t suspect the truth—that she was cooperating with the FBI to bring him down. Even though she didn’t like it, she understood how important the pretend marriage was in this scenario.

Gary would never have believed that she’d allow a boyfriend to move in with her and Haley. She had been quite vocal about the fact that she wasn’t going to be one of those single mothers who paraded men through their daughters’ lives. Although she realized she was close to being ready to entertain the thought of dating, of maybe finding somebody who would be special in their lives.

Gary also knew she didn’t have any brothers or male family members. He knew that other than a sister who was often out of the country, she was pretty much alone in the world, except for Haley.

Her parents had been wonderful people who had loved travel and adventure. Unfortunately, four years ago they had decided to take a sightseeing helicopter ride over one of the Hawaiian volcanoes, and engine trouble had resulted in a tragic wreck. Both her parents and the pilot had perished.

Her older sister, Rachel, had married a very wealthy man who loved to travel and had homes in France and on the Mediterranean, and the two of them spent most of their time overseas.

As much as she hated to admit it, the mock marriage was the only way she could explain Riley’s presence in her home.

As Haley played in the sand, Lana put the patties on the grill and closed the lid, then sat at the umbrella table on the patio.

Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad, she thought. Surely he would spend all his time with his camera at the window in the guest room, and at night he would have to sleep. Maybe she wouldn’t really have to interact with him much at all while he was in her home.

As if to prove her thoughts wrong, he opened the sliding glass door and stepped out onto the patio. Instantly every muscle in her body tensed. He filled the immediate area with his energy and a simmering sexuality as he walked with a loose-hipped gait toward the table where she sat.

“Steaks?” he asked, and pointed to the smoking grill.

“Burgers,” she replied.

He slid into the chair next to hers, and his gaze shot across the short green hedge that separated her lawn from Gary’s.

“Shouldn’t you be surveilling or making notes or something?” she asked, unable to keep her irritation out of her voice.

“I never miss a meal,” he replied with an easy smile. “Besides, the camera is still running and will catch anything I need to see. We’ve got men in the area also watching his house. I can’t stay at the camera 24/7. It’s also important that I maintain the aura of a normal relationship with you.”

He smelled good, like clean male mixed with an expensive cologne. “What exactly is it that you’re hoping to see?” She got up from the table and walked to the grill to flip the burgers and to get away from that provocative scent of him.

“Anything that looks suspicious. Anyone who comes to visit him.”

She turned her back to face the grill and heard him release a deep grunt of surprise. She whirled back around to see a sandy, smiling Haley attempting to crawl up on his lap.

“Pick me up!” Haley demanded.

Riley looked at Lana and she thought she saw a moment of sheer panic on his face. It flashed for only an instant and then was replaced with that irritating cool amusement as he picked Haley up and deposited her on his lap.

She clapped her hands and squealed with happiness. “I told you I had a way with women,” he said to Lana.

“She’s too young to know any better,” Lana retorted. She turned back to her burgers.

Oh, she knew his type all right. Handsome as sin and probably with little moral code, he would be accustomed to women making fools of themselves over him. He’d probably never heard the word no from any female. Well, he was in for a rude awakening if he thought she was just going to be another in a long line of conquests for him.

She smiled as she thought of the sand that was probably falling off Haley and into the cracks and crevices of Riley’s jeans. Hopefully, some of that abrasive sand would end up in his briefs.

She was acutely aware of Riley’s gaze on her as she took up the burgers. Haley had climbed back off his lap and returned to the sandbox, where she was digging with a plastic shovel.

“Come on, baby. It’s time to eat,” Lana said as she carried the burgers toward the back door.

“Thanks, sweetheart, I’m right behind you,” Riley replied, as if she’d been talking to him. He got up from the chair and then bent down and swooped Haley up in his arms. She squealed in delight as he carried her into the kitchen.

He plopped her into the booster seat and then sprawled in a chair at the table.

“There are cold sodas in the fridge,” Lana said. “Why don’t you grab a couple, and while you’re at it get out the mustard and ketchup or whatever you might want on your hamburger.” She wasn’t about to allow him to just sit and be waited on.

While he rummaged in the fridge she wiped down Haley’s hands and then put the burgers on buns and poured the chips into a serving bowl. She placed the food in the center of the table and sat down, then cut up a burger for Haley.

Riley joined her, and instantly she was inundated with sensory overload. His scent seemed to surround her, and she imagined she could feel the heat from his body reaching out to warm her.

Get a grip, she told herself. Granted, it had been a long time since she’d been around any man, but if the world held only Riley Kincaid she absolutely, positively wouldn’t be interested.

“I love hamburgers,” Haley exclaimed.

“Me, too,” Riley agreed with an easy smile at the child. “And I love potato chips.”

“Me, too,” Haley exclaimed with a giggle, and popped a chip into her mouth.

He could even charm the girls that young, Lana thought. Oh yes, she knew his type very well. All charm and no substance.

“I forgot something earlier,” he said, and reached into his shirt pocket. He pulled out a lovely gold wedding band and laid it on the table in front of her. “I believe this is yours, Mrs. Kincaid.”

She stared at the ring, oddly reluctant to pick it up and put it on. It had only been a month ago that she’d stopped wearing her wedding ring from Joe. That ring had come to represent heartache each time she’d looked at it.

It’s just pretend, she reminded herself as she finally picked up the ring and slid it on her finger. It felt cold and alien against her skin.

“I think we should plan a little celebration,” he said.

She looked at him warily. “What kind of a celebration?”

“A gathering to announce our marriage to your neighbors and friends.” He grabbed a handful of chips and smiled at her, seemingly unconcerned that what he was asking of her was to invite a potential serial killer over for cake and punch.

Riley stood and stretched with his arms overhead, wincing slightly as the muscles in his wounded shoulder groaned silently in protest.