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Jarvis’ eyes opened wide as he grabbed my beer from the cooler, popping the top.

“Hell, yeah. The man was decorated to the hilt. If you ask me, I think he always wanted a son to carry on the tradition. You did that for him. He was a private man, but from the few stories he told, he had the same kind of experiences I did while overseas. The kind of shit that gives nightmares an entirely new definition. He was a tortured man after he got out of the service. Then he came here and, well, people change.” His laugh sounded bitter.

Or knowing. “I know that all too well. I’m no psychologist, but I think he knew you needed a nudge to try and find peace. ”

The man shifted his gaze toward Juliette, a grin crossing his face. If he thought the woman was going to bring me any peace, he had no clue.

“Like I said. Not sure what I want to do yet.”

I wasn’t in the mood for war stories. Not right now. He seemed to sense the subject was off limits, pouring the shot of whiskey heavy.

“If that’s the case, there has been lots of interest in your uncle’s place given what he wanted to turn it into.

If you decide it’s too much for you, I know some people.

” His hesitation was a clear indication he was waiting for me to tell him no.

That wasn’t going to happen. “Let me know if you need anything.”

What the hell had Henry wanted to turn the place into? A horse farm? Shit. That didn’t interest me in the least.

“Yeah. Will do.” He walked away and Juliette immediately dipped and turned her head toward me, trying to gain eye contact.

I didn’t give it to her. The last thing I wanted was for some social prima donna to interfere with my life.

“The house is your uncle’s place. He left it to you?”

“Yeah, he did.” I took a pull of the beer, not looking in her direction. She was far too close, which made my balls tighten. And the damn perfume was giving me a headache.

“And you want to sell it? That’s terrible.”

There it went, her condescending attitude. She knew nothing about me and that’s the way it was going to stay.

“I don’t know what I want, Juliette.” I said the words a little too forcefully.

“Corabelle. Rules. Remember?”

“Yeah, I remember,” I grumbled. “Why Corabelle?”

“Just a favorite character from a movie a long time ago.” Every word out of her mouth irritated me, which was ridiculous, but somehow, she’d managed to continue unnerving me.

“This is a beautiful town. Next time we come out, I’ll bring my camera.

The backdrop would make a beautiful addition to my blog. ”

“There ain’t gonna be a next time. And no social fucking media.” I’d raised my voice enough even Jarvis looked over at me. I threw back half the liquor.

“Jesus. I didn’t mean I’d post anything right now. I meant in the future. I’m not stupid, Kage. No matter what you think.”

“I never said you were stupid.” Shit. The whiskey was going down too easily.

“You didn’t need to. I can tell what you think of me. I’m nothing like you’ve painted me to be. But since you never give anybody a chance or the time of day, you wouldn’t know. I’m shocked you adopted Tank.”

“What does that fuckin’ mean?”

She shifted closer, her defiance shameless. “That means I can’t believe you have the capacity to take care of anything or anyone. That requires you having a heart. I doubt you do.”

Every muscle in my body tensed. An argument was on the tip of my tongue, but she was right. What the hell business did I have trying to care for a living creature?

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Then why did you?” There was as much contention in her tone as in mine.

I took a gulp of whiskey, waiting for the burn that never came. “My uncle wanted me to care about something other than… the shit I’ve been dealing with. When I saw Tank shaking in his cell, I knew he needed someone to look past his scars.”

“You did the right thing. But you need to know something. We all have shit to deal with, Kage. We all have scars. Even prima donnas.”

Her comment was meant as a slight and I took it that way. However, I refused to be goaded by a woman. “What happened when you were thirteen?”

“What?”

“A break-in at your house. Your father wasn’t home.”

Juliette looked horrified, jerking back from me with hatred in her eyes. “Why the hell does it matter to you? Why? That was a long time ago and not something I need to be reminded of.”

“That’s what happened this morning, when I pulled you down. You remembered the day the bastard broke in.”

Her eyes were wide open, those berry lips pursed together in continued anger. I’d invaded a private, very personal moment and she hated me for it. While her gaze fell slowly to the dark liquid in her glass, her breathing remained labored.

I might as well forget about it. Nursing my beer, I glanced up at the television, some sports shit on the screen I couldn’t care less about.

“Do you remember the movie Taken ?” Her voice was soft, barely more than a whisper.

“Didn’t see it. Heard of it.”

“Yeah, well, the gist of the plot is a father who trained his daughter what to do and how to react in case of an intended kidnapping. To leave clues so both she and the kidnapper could be found. My father did that. I think he took a play by play of the script and forced me to go through several training sessions.”

I listened attentively while my hatred for the man continued to increase. Why leave her alone at thirteen? Why risk his daughter’s life because of whatever shit the man was into?

She fiddled with her glass, nervously taking a sip before continuing.

“I’d just gotten home from school. Dad wasn’t due home from a meeting for a couple hours and the housekeeper had a doctor’s appointment.

I was thrilled to have time to myself. The music was loud and I was dancing in my room not paying attention to the security system.

When I noticed the warning on my phone, I had very little time to put everything into motion.

I did what Dad had taught me to do, going to a bed in the guest room and hiding under it. ”

Sighing, I tossed back the rest of the whiskey.

“Just like the movie. Only I had no intentions of being taken. I had a metal bat a friend at school had given me as my protection. When the monsters came, grabbing my legs and pulling me free, I fought them. The police said it likely saved my life by buying me a few minutes since a police car was already on the way. My dad said I could have gotten myself killed. One of the monsters tried to smother me. He had his hand wrapped around my throat when the police broke in.”

I closed my eyes, fisting my hand around the beer bottle and turned my head so I could study her.

Her brow was pinched and she was constantly dragging the tip of her tongue across her bottom lip as she did when she was nervous.

After struggling to tug hair behind her ear, the strand continuing to fall, she ripped her fingers through it until I took her hand into mine.

“You’re safe now, Juliette. That’s not going to happen. Not when I’m around.”

A single breath escaped, the sound as shaky as her voice.

At least she didn’t try to pull away. “I know. Anyway, the two men were arrested. They had it all planned out. The idiots even had it written down. They’d ask for three million dollars.

As you might imagine, I had nightmares for years.

You know the worst part about the dreams? ”

“What?”

“I wasn’t certain if my dad would have paid the money.” Her laugh was bitter, sounding more like something that could come from me.

“Of course he would have, Juliette. I mean Corabelle.” I huffed from the slip of the tongue. “I might not be much of a decent human being, but I do know fathers have a special place in their hearts for their daughters.”

“I’m sorry about some of the things I said. I really didn’t mean them.”

Something forced me to release my hold. “You meant them and that’s okay.”

Juliette concentrated on her wine while Tank nuzzled against her leg. She wore her loneliness like I did mine. A couple of minutes ticked by.

An ugly sound pulsed at my lips just before taking another swallow of beer. “Drink your wine. We need to get some food before we head back.” I lowered my gaze to where Tank was positioned between our stools.

He was a damn good dog.

It was too bad I wasn’t the best father for him.

A couple more minutes of silence passed between us, the tension thick.

“I still don’t know why Gray called you. It’s not about him picking you. You’re obviously a trained killer.” She pushed the wineglass away, swiveling away from the bar so she could stand.

I almost choked on her comment. “Then what the hell do you mean?”

“I can’t remember the last time I saw my godfather. Just like your dad and uncle, Gray and my father had a falling out that Dad never talked about.”

“None of my business, but Gray was my commanding officer. He knows what I’d be capable of.”

She threw back a half glass of wine, chugging it like a sailor. “That’s what frustrates me about you, Kage. You refuse to get involved with anyone. I’m curious. Is that because you couldn’t care less or because you don’t have the capacity to care about anyone but yourself?”

When she started to walk away, I grabbed her arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To the bathroom. Would you like to come inside the restroom with me and hold my hand?” Her glare of defiance had returned.

I released my hold immediately; the touch of her skin alone was far too damning. “Don’t take too long.” I threw her a sideways glance, forced to shift on the barstool since my dick was pulsing like a son of a bitch.

“Aye, aye, sir,” she huffed, saluting as she clicked her heels together.

While she was walking away, I grumbled under my breath.

“So, recently married, huh?” Jarvis winked when he suddenly appeared in front of me.

“What the fuck?”

“News travels fast although I can tell you two don’t know each other very well.

I take it you’re on assignment. Don’t worry, you don’t need to say anything.

Just remember this town treats itself like one of those quaint locations depicted in a Hallmark movie.

Everyone knows everything about everyone else but themselves. ” He laughed heartedly.

“Great.”

“But look at it this way. Maybe she’ll do you some good and make you want to stick around, maybe even start a family.”

“Fuck that.”

He laughed while I tipped my head toward the neon sign indicating the restrooms. Nothing would break the cycle of pain furrowing deep inside.

Not even a beautiful woman with a body made for sin.