Secrets (11 page)

The bodyguard stood silent, a soldier dedicated to his boss's evil cause.

Carter shifted to one foot. The smile he wore did nothing for his stone face. “Good morning, Miss Slade. Are you alone in the office?” He didn't wait for her answer. He sauntered to the sisters' private office and opened the door. “Yoohoo. Anyone home?”

Casey winked at Michelle. He could see her hands trembling. But she didn't hesitate. Quickly, she stepped to the office door, cut in front of Carter, and closed it behind her. “Yes, I'm alone this morning. Can I help you?”

Carter stepped back and surveyed Michelle. “Nice of you to ask, Miss Slade. But really, I've already secured what I want.”

“Then why are you here?” She stood straight, holding back her shoulders. Casey admired her attempts to stand her ground, but Carter's smug attitude burned in him like strong medicine.

Carter ignored her question, turned to him, and smiled … again. He put his hand to Casey's shoulder and squeezed, hard. “I'm sorry I missed the niceties, my boy. How are you today?”

Casey gritted his teeth. The pain in his shoulder from the last night's bullet stung just enough to let him know it was there. He didn't miss the subtle point—Carter thought he knew Casey was the masked burglar who no doubt showed up on security footage. He shrugged. “Like Michelle asked, what do you want? I know you're not here to talk to the investigators. You probably knew they weren't here.”

William's eyes slitted and his smile dropped. “I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone since you so obligingly showed up just at the moment I arrived to talk to Ms. Slade.”

Casey slammed his fist on the desk. “Enough. No more glib remarks to entertain your sorry self. What. Do. You. Want?”

“I want you to stay out of my business.” He held Casey's look for a long moment, then turned to Michelle. “And I wanted to hand deliver this notice, Ms. Slade. You can read it for yourself, but essentially you have thirty days to move out of my house.”

Michelle took the letter, her eyes blank. “Your house? I'm not in your house.”

“Oh yes you are. I signed the papers yesterday at the bank, taking over the mortgage. It's all in the notice. It turns out the mortgage banker you worked with didn't work with an ethical title company. The deed you were given is null and void.”

Casey watched, helpless, as William Carter stole Michelle's life. There was no question now that the man was targeting her.

Michelle dropped the notice onto her desk and pursed her lips. The room emptied of air. “That's all? You simply wanted to deliver this notice? Surely you don't expect me to take this at face value.” Michelle's eyes flamed with anger. “And surely you don't believe I'm unaware of your motive.”

“My motive?”

She came from her desk and stood staring up at Carter. “You don't like losing. This is your way of putting me in my place, letting me know you're not happy that I fingered the rapist, your buddy's son. It's not enough that your friend's son was acquitted. You have to step on me, take away my home, and who knows what else you have planned for me?”

Carter twisted a grin. “Oh, that motive. Maybe this time you'll learn. I can do anything to you I want.”

Casey leaped at Carter, swiftly circling his neck in a headlock. “That sounds like a threat.” He gritted his teeth and glared at the bodyguard. “Put away that gun or your boss is going to get what he deserves.” His fury gritted his teeth and he had to stomp on a growl rumbling in his chest.

Michelle marched to the bodyguard and demanded the gun. Casey stopped breathing, seeing her face down the gun.

“Give the girl the gun,” William managed to say.

She stuck out her hand and the bodyguard surrendered it.

Casey let go of Carter at the same moment he shoved him toward the door. “Now, both of you get out. And don't ever go near her again.”

Carter collected himself, adjusting the collar on his dress shirt and running a hand through his hair. “See that you stay away from my business, Casey, or I'll notify the police.”

Casey shook his head. “I know you have the cops in your pocket, but I'm making you my personal business. Be sure of it.”

Carter headed toward the door, but turned back to glare at Michelle. “Ms. Slade, I expect you out of my house. I'll be watching you.”

Casey slammed the door closed as William and his bodyguard barely got through the doorway. Immediately, he spun on his heels and went to Michelle. He so wanted to wrap her in his arms, make all the pain go away.

Instead, he stood in front of her, waiting for a cue. Her eyes glazed, she drew in rapid breaths as she stood still in the same spot.

She set down the gun, then turned her beautiful blue eyes up at him. Pain and sorrow and fear all combined to release one tear, then another. But she didn't reach out to him.

“What can I do?” His voice soft, pleaded to let him in.

Trembling, she fingered the envelope from Carter. “I don't understand. Why is this happening, why is he happening?”

She started to melt to the floor, shaking badly. Casey gently put his arms around her, lowering to the floor with her. He guided her head to rest on his shoulder, taking in the shaking rippling through her. “I'll find out, Michelle. I promise.”

“It's never going to stop. Not ever.”

Casey rubbed her cheek, trying to soothe her senses. “It feels like it now, I know. But it will end.”

He could feel her coming back. Her breaths became even and her trembling stopped. She aimed clear eyes at him. His words were sinking in. He was in this with her. “I don't want you to be alone. I'm taking you home and I'm staying with you.”

She nodded her head without objecting. Suddenly, a subtle shift in Michelle's expression glazed her face. He knew better than to interfere. She was getting a premonition. The premonitions didn't take her over completely, but he knew from experience that if he didn't distract her she'd get a more thorough glimpse.

“I've seen this premonition before. Just like the first one, I see a cat.” Her eyes remained directed in front of her. “The cat is walking into a trap, then the trap is picked up.” She breathed in and let it out slowly. “That's it.” She hunched her shoulders and pursed her lips.

“The premonition troubles you?”

“Yes. There is fear and confusion in the cat. I feel danger.” Michelle shivered. “I wish I would get more of the picture.”

Casey's heart stuttered in his chest. First she shared the terrible experience of her rape, then a disturbing premonition. It would be a lot for anyone to deal with. Admiration and acknowledgement of her strength expanded inside of him.

“Why are you looking at me like that, all googly-eyed?” Michelle fidgeted with a beaded bracelet on her arm.

Casey smiled. “Because you're amazing. Your premonition is spot on. Stray cats are coming up missing. Lara and I and some friends have been trying to figure out what's going on with the missing cats.” Fire lit in her eyes, and he shot her a sheepish smile.

“And you didn't tell me?” She leaned in and pointed to herself. “I'm a cat person. I own a cat rescue. You didn't think about including me in this investigation?”

“You're right. I should have.” Casey rubbed his forehead and stared at the floor. He knew why he hadn't included her. It instantly would have become complicated. Once again, his secrets made demands and he'd complied. He ran his fingers through his hair, his mind warring with his beliefs and his heart.

Michelle cleared her throat. “Okay, as long as you understand I need to know about it and I want to be involved.”

She took in another heavy breath and slumped in the chair, as though all her energy had been drained.

“I think it's been difficult for both of us to reveal everything. We're letting out private stuff piece at a time.” He studied her sensuous lips, the rise of her cheekbones, and wanted to take away all the missteps he'd made since they met.

Her lips lifted and she aimed her misty eyes at him. “I know I'm guilty of holding back. How many people do you know who have premonitions and can feel other people's emotions? That's some seriously flaky stuff. But you've never made me feel odd.”

Guilt traveled up and down his spine. The air in his lungs got stuck in his throat.
You have no idea about my secrets.
“See, we're good for each other.”

She chuckled. It came out weak and breathless.

“You're tired. Let's get out of here.”

His brain made an abrupt shift as he slipped the envelope holding the notice into his pocket and drew her to her feet. As she gathered her belongings, Casey marveled at the change of things in just a few days. He'd been on his way to talk with her and the sisters about what he'd found out about Carter's plans, but he'd never suspected it would go down this way, with Carter revealing himself so blatantly. Bad for Michelle's emotions but good for him to witness and have more pieces to put together.

• • •

Michelle's shakes settled down in Casey's car on the ride to her house. There wasn't much conversation. She didn't have much to say, other than to let Casey know Sterling and Lacey were out of town on business. She just didn't have much starch in her body and her mind had gone numb. Sunk into the car cushions with her thoughts shut down seemed like as good a place to be as any right now.

When they pulled up into her drive and she got out, the walk to her door felt stiff, her legs heavy. In the kitchen, she noted it was lunchtime, but her appetite lacked any enthusiasm for food.

“Here, let's sit in the living room.” Casey guided her to the couch.

“I don't feel like talking.” Michelle slumped into the couch and rested her head against the back.

Casey scratched his chin, eyeing her, but she couldn't pick up any sense of his feelings. She was too closed down.

“I know you don't feel like talking, or anything else, for that matter. But I think you have to.” He took a seat in the upholstered chair across the room. He propped his elbow on his knee, then rested his chin on his hand, his expression soft and at the same time firm.

Something in her rose to meet the solid feel of his presence. With her world swiftly falling away, he felt safe and of good substance. Blood warmed in her body. Her breaths opened up to fill her lungs.

“You didn't need to bring me home and you certainly don't need to stay the night with me.”

He nodded. “Yes, I do.”

She tapped her fingers on the arm of the couch. It would be so easy to go toward him. He'd been nothing but kind and gentle and protective since she'd first met him. But thinking of it sent her heart racing. And if he hurt her, what would it mean?

“No you don't. I am fine.”

Casey threw up his hands. “I know you can take care of yourself, Michelle. I know you're fine. But I'm not leaving you here alone, not when William Carter has declared his malicious intentions. I know he's a bad son of bitch.”

She let out a deep sigh, and watched as the rigid carriage of his shoulders softened. His beautiful golden eyes, gentle and kind, pleaded with her to trust him. Fears predicted hurt and rejection and betrayal, making it impossible for her to get any valid premonitions, so screw premonitions. All she had was right now.

The understanding and love emanating from him softened the hard edges of fear and sorrow. Maybe it was time for her to come out of the darkness and live as she'd dreamed of before that dreadful night on the quad.

Tentatively, Michelle fingered a black dreadlock that fell between his eyes. He shifted his gaze to capture hers. His eyes glistened, the way they so often did, and he gently traced the outline of her lips.

She nuzzled his cheek, savoring the scent of him. It soothed her nerves. It drew her in, promising places of peace and security.

Her eyes returned to his, finding intense arousal in them. She dropped a delicate kiss to his cheek, another to his bottom lip. His taut muscles flexed against her and his breathing came faster—just as hers did.

“Michelle, are you sure?” He placed his question quietly at the outer edge of her ear, his breath whispering on her skin.

She responded by seeking his delicious lips and melting into a lingering kiss. When she pulled back about a millimeter, her lips still against his, she answered. “I haven't been with a man since that day in the quad. But with you, in this moment, I'm very sure.”

He lifted her in his arms while she rested her head against his firm chest, and carried her to her bedroom and set her on the edge of her bed. Reverently, he tugged at her sweater, lifting it over her head, then removed her bra. Her insides tingled so vibrantly, she thought she might explode. He took her breasts, one at a time, into his hands, staring at them, caressing them. When she thought she couldn't take it any longer, he kissed one nipple, then the other, driving her further into the stratosphere.

While she tore his shirt off, he moaned a heady, dusky groan. Michelle's hand roved over his back, fingering the dimensions of his muscles, then bent to kiss his hard chest, while unzipping his pants.

He kicked off his remaining clothes, then tugged off her pants and underwear so swiftly he nearly knocked her over. She stretched out on the bed, making room for him next to her.

Lying beside him on the bed, Michelle's protective walls dropped like they hadn't in years. Pressed dark skin to pale skin with Casey, she closed her eyes and lived the moment. He dove for her mouth, all the while caressing her shoulders, her breasts, her arms. Her mouth danced with his, their tongues tangled. Her heart sang to the crazy beat of his against her chest.

When he trailed kisses over her breasts again, she grabbed his back, losing track of everything but Casey's flesh. When he continued to drop kisses to her stomach, her thighs, then her moist center, she arched to him without holding back.