Chapter Thirteen
Darryn stared at Hannah, not sure whether he should hug her or throttle her. She lifted her chin.
Strong women. That was what David called his wife and his brothers’ wives yesterday. And he loved a strong woman as well. Look at her. Her blue eyes were clear, her shoulders pushed back—she was ready to take on the world.
“I can’t let you do that,” he said in a soothing voice and stepped forward to pull her closer.
But she shook off his hand and turned her fiery blue eyes on him. “What did you say? Let me?” she asked, her voice ice cold.
“Oh, man, you shouldn’t have said that.” Dale snickered behind him.
“You never, ever tell them that.” David guffawed.
“You have a lot to learn.” Don, who had just finished his phone call, snorted.
“Oh, yeah?” Caitlin said coolly and turned to Don. “He’s not the only one. Just the other day you tried to send us to the kitchen while we were looking for Hannah.”
“I didn’t send you to the kitchen, damn it to hell, I tried to protect you!”
Caitlin crossed her arms and moved so she stood next to Hannah. Dana and Zoe joined them.
“So, now that you know we’re quite capable of looking after ourselves,” Caitlin said, “let us think of plan to get this bastard. All of us,” she said. “Together.”
Darryn swallowed all of his objections. He would find a way to keep Hannah safe, but that was clearly not something one said out loud. He was learning all right.
“I’ve spoken to the private detective,” Don said. “He didn’t know about the fire, but he followed White up to Langebaan before he lost him. I’ve told him White is probably on his way back.”
“Well, hell,” Darryn said. He wanted to storm outside, find the bastard, and kill him with his bare hands. But his head pounded, the roaring in his ears was back, and fatigue settled over him. He was bloody useless at the moment. Frustrated, he sat down.
Hannah dropped down next to him. “Won’t you please lie down for a while? You’re not going to be any help if you don’t rest.”
“Only if you come with me,” he said, knowing full well he sounded like a petulant kid. But even if he couldn’t do anything, he would feel better if Hannah was with him.
“Darryn, I’m not going to hide away here. I have a life, and I fully intend to carry on with it. I have a photo shoot tomorrow and have to find out more about it…”
“When did you hear about that? You only decided last night to come back?” Dana asked the question he was also wondering about.
“I spoke to Karen this morning. This came up a while ago when I didn’t want to come to South Africa, but now that I’m here, I can do it. It’s a shoot for an advertising campaign for one of the big retailers. There will be plenty of people around, so no need to worry about me.”
She turned to Darryn. “You get your rest; I’ll be back this evening.”
He started to protest, but Zoe patted his shoulder. “Don’t you worry, we won’t leave her side.”
“So what’s the plan?” Zoe asked.
“I’m going to switch on my old phone again and keep it with me as well. If Stephen is so smart, he’ll track me down. Only difference is, this time I’ll be ready for him.”
“You can’t do this on your own,” Darryn began hotly.
Hannah gave him a cool look. “I know. And I’m not going to. Fortunately, I have three big and bad brothers-in-law who can take turns following me around until you are better. And Don will also arrange for extra security.”
“One that will not be duped and let you slip away?” Darryn asked.
Again her blue eyes rested on him coolly. “I told you, I’m sorry. You should know I won’t do that again.”
Darryn clenched his hands in frustration. He wanted to pick Hannah up, throw her over his shoulder, and take her to a place far away where no harm could come to her. But, damnit, he was so tired he could hardly stay awake, let alone protect anyone.
“May I talk to you for a second?” he asked and looked at Hannah.
She nodded and followed him to his room. “How are you feeling? Don’t you think we should call—”
That was as far as she got because, kicking the door shut, he pulled her close to him and kissed her.
For a millisecond, she resisted, but he deepened the kiss, her mouth opened, and he gathered her close.
He wanted a kiss. Just a kiss. But kissing Hannah Sutherland had never been “just” anything.
Desire kicked him in the gut, sent his senses into overdrive, and with a groan he surrendered to her warmth, her softness.
Her kisses tied him up in knots and left him aching—not a physical ache that could be treated with bandages and ointments, but an ache for which the only cure was the woman in his arms. Why it took him two years to figure this out, he’d never know.
“I need to touch you,” he said feverishly against her lips, and even before the words had left his mouth, he skimmed his hands over her breasts, cupped them, delighting in their softness.
Her nipples hardened under his hands and, frantic to touch her flesh, he opened buttons, plucked aside satin and lace until his skin could touch hers.
He lifted his head, his breath coming out raggedly.
With her eyes glazed over, her heart pounding against his palm, he forgot about the people outside this room, life outside this house, danger somewhere in this city.
The only thing that mattered was to become a part of Hannah as soon as humanly possible.
“I need you,” he whispered and bent down to capture her lips with his again.
A loud pounding on his door had him cussing a blue streak.
“Hannah, we want to leave!” Don yelled, much louder than necessary.
“Yeah, we hear you!” Darryn growled back. “Just a damn minute.”
He combed her hair back with his fingers.
“Tonight,” he said. “I’ll organize dinner.” She had gathered the sides of her blouse, but he stopped her hands.
“Darryn, I have to go,” she said.
“I know, but let me…” His hands cupped her breasts. Her breath hitched, and she licked her lips.
“Damn, woman.” He growled and had to kiss her again. Reluctantly, he lifted his head, and with unsteady fingers, he helped her button up her blouse.
She smiled.
“Oh, you think it’s funny driving me so nuts I can’t hold my hands steady?” he said silkily and tugged her forward so she was in his arms again.
With one sweep of his hands, he moved the hem of her short skirt all the way up over her hips so he could feel her heat. And watched as her eyes darkened.
“Darryn,” she whispered and moved to give him better access.
“Hannah?” Caitlin’s voice came from the other side of the door.
Hannah stepped back and finished buttoning her blouse. “Just a minute,” she said.
“That’s what Darryn said five minutes ago. You want me to come and pick you up later?” Caitlin asked, clearly amused.
“No, I’m on my way,” she said before turning to him again.
“Don’t switch your old phone back on before you get here tonight, please?” he asked. “I don’t want that maniac to get close to you if I’m not around.”
She stepped closer, lifted herself on her toes, and kissed his cheek. “See you tonight,” she whispered, and before he could say anything, she was gone.
Darryn leaned against his bedroom door. His bothers were calling him to come out, but he needed a minute. His body had apparently forgotten he was suffering from a concussion. Feeling light-headed, he sat down on his bed as his door opened.
“You okay?” Dale asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Well, come and lock your front door, we don’t want that idiot returning and finding your door unlocked.”
Grimacing, Darryn stood up. Well, that thought had the same effect as a bucket of ice-cold water. “Damnit, stop fussing.” He growled but got up and followed a grinning Dale out of his room.
*
Darryn was restless. After everyone had left this morning, he had slept for an hour and was now feeling much better. The doctor had been by, replaced the bandages and had advised him to stay home for another day or two before venturing outside.
He’d work on some photographs, but his thoughts kept straying to Hannah and damn Stephen White. Apparently Dale and a security guy were following her around today, but would they be able to keep her safe? There was an uneasiness in his gut he couldn’t shake off.
Dale had phoned when he and the security guard left Hannah’s home and followed her to the photo shoot. At his request, his brother had sent him the address where the shoot would take place. It was a venue in Sea Point he knew well and had worked in while he was still a fashion photographer.
Hannah was safe; she was being looked after by his brother and security guard. He should relax and try to finish the photographs he was working on.
Nothing could happen to her while she was doing the shoot, right?
So why the hell was he feeling this way? For a few seconds he stood still, trying to figure out what was wrong. Then he knew. His gut was trying to tell him something, and he had always relied on that.
Grabbing his car keys, he hurried to his car.