Page 26 of Desperate Temptations

G ary watched the two of them. His eyes became bitter and icy with each second that passed. Cain could almost smell the fear in the other man, but also a scalding fury he tried to hide. Cain knew Gary was torn between wanting to run for his life and wanting to kill him.

Cain knew the man would run. He didn’t have the guts to try to take him. Before the other man took two steps, Cain’s voice lashed out at him.

“Stop!” Cain said sharply, his voice hard and unforgiving. Cain looked down briefly, his eyes instantly softening. “Jessa, go into the bedroom.” When she hesitated, he said gently, squeezing her hand, “Go on, Baby, everything is going to be fine.”

Both men watched her go. When they heard the bedroom door quietly close, Cain took the few steps separating him from Gary. He grasped the front of his shirt, pulling him up till his toes were barely touching the floor.

“I thought I made myself clear in my office. Jessa is mine, will always be mine. If I ever see you within a mile of her, I’ll kill you.

And before you say I’ll never get away with it, remember what I did for a living.

I can cut you into so many little pieces and throw you in so many places, no one would ever find you,” Cain said in a voice that could cut glass.

Clearly terrified, Gary pushed against Cain’s grip and tried to get away from him.

“Let go of me, you bastard! Don’t you threaten me! I’m a cop. I’ll have you arrested. Let go...” Gary stammered and gasped for breath.

Cain threw Gary from him, crossing his arms over his chest. He watched Gary scramble to keep from falling, then run out the door to get away from him.

“You’ll regret this, you’ll both fucking regret it,” Gary yelled over his back as he retreated.

Cain watched him jump into his car, rapidly back out of the short driveway, and peel out. He gently shut the front door and locked it.

He turned to find Jessa standing by the hallway. He hated the look on her face and wanted more than anything to wipe it off. He opened his arms.

Jessa didn’t hesitate. She ran with a whimper and threw herself into his arms. He was pleased she needed him, needed his warmth and the feeling of security that only he could give her.

He murmured softly to her and calmly ran a hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her. The smell and feel of her in his arms calmed him enough to loosen the taut muscles straining through his body. He would gladly kill Gary just for scaring her like this.

“How much did you hear?” he asked.

Jessa tilted back to look at him and shook her head. “I didn’t hear anything, I just came out because it got so quiet.”

He gently wiped the tears she shed. She looked intently at him.

“Thank you, Cain. I was so scared. I’ve never seen him like that. What’s going on? I don’t understand what’s changed with Gary.”

Cain pressed a kiss on her forehead and smiled when she made a sweet humming sound at the contact.

“Don’t worry about him, Jessa. He’s not going to bother you again.”

“I can’t help but worry about it. Gary’s been a friend for years, but he’s never shown the least interest in me until now.”

Cain smiled, gathered her against his body, and held her snugly against him.

“Sweetheart, I’m pretty sure Gary has cared about you for a long time. I’m guessing even before Drew’s death.”

“I didn’t know. I never felt like that with Gary.

God, poor Aubrey. I hope their divorce had nothing to do with his feelings for me.

I haven’t been a good friend to her. I called her a few weeks ago and asked her to have lunch, but she never called me back.

I was going to try calling her again, but I got so busy. Now, I think I’d better wait.”

Cain bent so he could look into her eyes.

“I agree, don’t call her again until I find out what’s going on with Gary. Okay?” When she nodded, he softly pressed his lips to hers, extremely pleased when she rose on tiptoes to push herself tighter against him.

Jessa pulled away, lightly stroked her hand over his chest, and stared intently at Cain, but he could tell her mind was in turmoil.

Cain wanted to take her mind off Gary, and his mind off the need to pick her up and take her to bed, showing her precisely whom she belonged to.