Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
M allory
Tap. Tap.
The sound immediately drew my attention. I glanced up from the book I was reading, staring at the front window. I’d heard the wind earlier and with the number of trees surrounding the house, the sound was likely nothing more than branches hitting the house. Even Jax didn’t react, keeping his head on my legs on the couch.
The boy was just as comfortable as could be.
I returned to the book, shocked when I’d found a first edition classic in Beckett’s awesome library. The time was far too relaxing and I yawned, which prompted the pup to do the same.
He was about to settle down once again when his ears perked up. When he looked toward the front window as I’d done seconds before, the hair stood up on the back of my neck. With a quick look over my shoulder, I noticed Beckett was still outside. I could just make out a quick glimpse of his long, muscular legs.
I put the book on the table, tossing back the blanket and standing. There was no reason for me to be nervous. An approaching vehicle could have been heard hundreds of yards away. Still, I moved with caution, standing off to the side of the window before peering out through the closed blinds.
They’d remained in that position at Beckett’s insistence. I couldn’t see a thing but trees covered in snow, more trees, the truck, and snow as far as the eye could see. There were no obvious footprints, no sign that any other life had been close to the house. Jax jumped onto the windowsill, shoving his muzzle through the slats.
Since the pup wasn’t growling or attempting to claw his way through the glass, I determined what I’d heard had been nothing more than the wind.
“Come on, boy. It’s nothing.” Yet instead of returning to my perch on the couch, I headed to the back door, peering out at the darkening sky.
“I don’t know, Jax. Your father is working awfully hard.”
Woof.
I peered down at the pup for a few seconds, reaching over to scratch behind his ear. “Do you think we should take him a treat?”
Jax sat back on his haunches, peering up at me as if he was really thinking about whether his master deserved a hot cup of coffee after spending the last hour cutting additional wood. He’d insisted, worried another storm was coming in. The man was like some huge weather radar, capable of predicting an upcoming event better than any television station with all their fancy, expensive radar equipment.
He finally wagged his tail, even rubbing his paw over his nose.
“Goodness. You drive a hard bargain. One cup.” I laughed as I headed into the kitchen, finding an oversized mug in the cabinet. Once I hit brew on the coffee machine, I returned to the living room to slide into my boots and jacket.
With my gloves on, I poured his cup, struggling with the cream and sugar, all the while laughing. The man had turned my world upside down. I was caught in a strange and surreal passage in time. I never wanted this to end, yet knew there was no possibility it could last.
As soon as I opened the door, Jax bounded outside. I held the cup in both hands, careful not to trip, stopping short as soon as Beckett came into view. He’d removed his jacket and gloves, tossing them aside. He’d even rolled up the sleeves on his Henley, the setting sun allowing me to gather an incredible view of the tattooed muscles on his forearms.
I allowed myself to enjoy the stunning picture for a few seconds before approaching. The way he was swinging the maul was powerful, every muscle in his body perfection. I approached quietly, never taking my eyes off him.
His gun was secured with him in a holster attached to his shoulder. I was no longer afraid of his constant companion or of him, but as always, a slight shiver replaced the earlier moments of warmth.
Jax was as happy as before, although I noticed he wasn’t quite as exuberant as he’d been during the earlier outing. The poor pup was tired.
“Not too hard, Jax. You’ll hurt yourself,” I called out. As soon as I did, Beckett stopped what he was doing, still holding the maul as he slowly turned his head.
His face was covered in beads of sweat just like in the shower.
But for a less exciting reason. The way he was looking at me created an entirely different wave of it. His expression was one of knowing, our intimacy breaking down barriers. Whoever said you could have sex without it changing things was a fool.
Becoming passionate altered every single aspect from looks given to thoughts running through one’s mind.
Forget what being in close proximity to the man did to every synapse, muscle, and nerve ending. Red-hot heat had never been so prevalent in my body.
When he finally lowered his gaze to the cup in my hand, he offered a salacious grin.
I held it out as I walked closer, quickly taking another glance toward the sky. “Coffee? You’ve been working so hard.”
“I was hoping you were bringing me a beer.” He rubbed his arm across his face and I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“That could be arranged if that’s what you’d prefer.”
He chuckled and beckoned for what was in my hand. I approached slowly, taunting him by holding out the mug then pulling my arm away.
His look was stern, the man lifting a single eyebrow. “Such a little tease.”
“As you expect of me.”
“I guess I do.” He grabbed the cup, then took a sip, twisting his body to see what Jax was doing.
Jax woofed once and bounded around the side of the house.
“He’s going to be one tired pup tonight,” I said offhandedly.
“Maybe that’s good for him.”
“You really think it’s going to snow?”
After taking a deep whiff, he shrugged. “If the weather holds off, we’ll head back tomorrow. The roads should be passable by then.”
“Oh.”
He took a few additional sips of the coffee, then placed the mug down carefully in the snow. “What’s wrong, Doc? You don’t want to return to that glorious life of yours?”
“It’s not that. I just…”
“Just what?”
Ping.
We both shot a look toward the sound. The sudden quiet was eerier than before.
“Jax, baby. Come here.” The pup didn’t come running when I called. “That’s odd.”
Tap. Tap.
“That’s what I heard inside.” I was still glancing toward the front of the house.
“What are you talking about?” Beckett was suddenly by my side.
“I just heard something coming from out front. There was nothing. Jax and I checked it out.”
“Do not tell me you unlocked that front door.”
I heard the sudden anxiety in his voice and turned my head, looking into his eyes. He was staring toward the side of the house.
“No, of course not. There was nothing there. I checked out the window.” The tension erupting from the man was instantaneous.
“Jax. Come. Now,” he growled.
The quiet was almost all consuming. “Jax!”
Just when my stomach fell, Jax came bounding around the corner of the house at full speed, almost knocking me over with his joy and excitement after slamming his front paws into my chest.
“Whoa, baby. What were you up to?” I was teasing the pup while Beckett walked around me and closer to the house.
“Go in the house, Mallory.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Just do as I say!” His vehemence came across as anger, but I knew him well enough to know better.
“Come on, Jax. Let’s go inside.”
“Lock the door and close the blinds. I’ll issue two short knocks, wait five seconds and issue another one. Do not open the door unless you’re certain it’s me. Understood?”
I took a deep breath. “You’re scaring me.”
Beckett shot me a quick glance. “Go inside. It’ll be fine.”
I backed away, watching as he headed around the side of the house, crouching down some as if trying to remain hidden. He waited at the corner of the building until I ushered Jax inside. Before I slipped inside, I shook my head, fear starting to eat into my common sense. How could there be anyone here?
I locked the door and backed away briefly before remembering what he’d said. My fingers were shaking as I closed the blinds, almost stumbling over the back of the couch as I moved away. Jax still wasn’t growling, but his ears were perked up.
The fear was palpable, the heavy thudding in my heart making it difficult to catch a full breath. When I heard another sound, I spun around to face the front of the house, loathing the fact there were windows everywhere. Yes, they were covered in blinds, but the amount of glass added a heightened level of vulnerability.
Jax remained close, but I could tell he was in tune to the fact an unwanted being was outside. The fur on his back was raised, every muscle in his body expanding.
Something prompted me into kicking my butt into gear. We were facing extreme danger.
The rush of emotions was severe. I’d wanted to pretend being around Beckett was normal. There was no normal in his world.
Just the effort of swallowing was difficult, especially as I did everything I could to fight the emotions swelling within me.
Sadness.
Anger.
Resolve.
His past would never set him free.
I rushed from the living room up the stairs, yanking off my jacket so I could jerk on another sweatshirt. Where the hell had I left my phone? I was frantic, moving from room to room until I located it in the master bath. I threw on the jacket, anxiety riding every breath I took.
A weapon. I needed a weapon. Jax hadn’t followed me upstairs and by the time I rushed back into the living room, he was growling and chomping at the bit while standing at the front window.
My nerves were finally shot. We wouldn’t survive this. I felt it in my bones.
A part of me wanted to reach back to my childhood when my mother had told me on every difficult occasion that prayer was always helpful. I’d lost that ability the day I’d buried my fiancé. Suddenly, I felt like doing so again. It certainly couldn’t hurt.
Please don’t let us die.
Please keep us safe.
I’ll be a good girl for the rest of my life if you let us live.
I promise I’ll let go, finally living again.
Guide Beckett. He’s not a bad man no matter what he tells me.
Nothing seemed appropriate.
I was completely out of practice.
Another slight sound drew my attention.
Boots on the front deck.
As a scream bubbled to the surface, I willed my feet to move.
I didn’t make it to the kitchen before the front door burst open and all I could see was the barrel of a gun.