MacGyver moved up behind her and looked over her shoulder. Just then, a bolt of lightning zigzagged across the heavens, and, for a fraction of a second, he saw the trees whipping in the wind and the rain lashing the driveway where he’d parked the SUV. Everything appeared exactly as it had when he arrived, but he’d been worried about Kellie then. He’d hopped from the vehicle and hurried up the stairs. Maybe he’d missed something.
He reached for her to draw her against him, but she whipped around, the intensity in her eyes making his skin prickle with unease.
“There was someone out there—a man.” Her words dropped like stones into a deep well. “I thought it was him sneaking in. I hid and…I’m sorry, MacGyver. Attacking you was unintentional and not very effective.” She hugged herself and dropped her forehead against his chest.
He chuckled as he leaned in and kissed her brow. Banding his arms around her, he examined the ground below the window and farther out to the tree line that formed a natural perimeter. Too damn dark to see anything from here.
He gripped her shoulders and pushed her away a step. “Think you could find me a flashlight?”
“Why? What are you going to do?”
He retraced his steps until he caught the glint of metal on the floor and knelt to pick up his weapon before turning back. “I’m going to have a look around.”
“Outside?”
“That’s where you saw someone, right?”
“Don’t patronize me. I know what I saw.” Abruptly, she wheeled around and strode toward the kitchen.
Soon he heard drawers and cupboards opening and closing. Then the noise stopped and she reappeared, walking purposefully toward him.
MacGyver grasped the flashlight she held out, then put his hand on her waist to stop her when she tried to sidestep him. “I believe you, Champ. Even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be foolish enough to patronize you.”
A moment of silence passed before she jabbed a sharp finger into his chest. “Smart move, Iverson.” He could hear the half-assed smile in her voice.
Pulling his cell phone from his rear pocket, he handed it to her. “Keep an eye out while I’m gone. If you see anything that doesn’t look right, or if I don’t come back in twenty minutes, call Travis. He’s number two in favorites.”
Kellie gave a snarky laugh. “Number two, huh? You need a life, MacGyver.”
She was only joking, but her cavalier suggestion irked him, probably because of the truth in her words. But that didn’t stop his irritation from escaping with a growl. “Had one once. They’re overrated.”
He hadn’t meant to be harsh, but she stiffened and drew back.
Way to go, Iverson.
It wasn’t her fault he still had a thin skin when it came to Shelby’s rejection. He was long since over any heartbreak she’d caused, but the thought of her still had the power to make him feel insignificant. Kellie didn’t deserve the blowback from his failed relationship. He turned away and strode toward the door. Yet, if she went looking for Travis’s number in his favorites, she’d no doubt see Shelby’s name in the top spot. At first, he’d left it there because he couldn’t wrap his head around the truth that it was over. Now, he allowed Shelby to occupy the number one spot so he’d see her name every day and be reminded why love and commitment weren’t for him.
“Stay here and use the damn dead bolt.” The words were unintentionally gruff, but he threw them over his shoulder anyway, then ripped the door open and stepped into the storm.
Chapter Twelve
Whatever Kellie had done to piss him off, she’d evidently excelled at the job.Men! When will I learn?
She crossed to the big picture window again in time to see MacGyver jump the side railing of the stairs, hesitate a second and disappear into the shadow of the SUV parked in front of the house. Narrowing in on the last place she’d seen him, she waited for a change in the dark outline of the vehicle that would tell her he was on the move. When the next bolt of lightning lit up the night, he was gone.
She’d heard tales of Navy SEALs’ exploits—how they could pile from their transport vehicle and, within a half dozen steps, disappear into the landscape without a trace. Seeing MacGyver do that very thing sent a chill rocketing through her. It was eerie and left in its wake another feeling that swelled within until it was hard to swallow. Pride in her country and the military, but mostly, pride in the man.
He was the real deal. Strong, courageous and steadfast—all crucial white-knight characteristics. More than that, he wore integrity as though it was a name tag. The fact he was easy on the eyes and built like her idea of a mythical god didn’t hurt either. Beneath his tough exterior, MacGyver was an all-around nice guy. It was what she liked most about him.
Aw…there was the problem. Damn it. She liked him—too much. Not only that, she’d compounded her mistake by letting him kiss her. Touch her…and keep touching until…
Oh God!Kellie swung around, her back against the wall beside the window, and scrunched her eyes shut. A groan escaped. Finding Anna should be her one and only priority. In a few hours or days, when the marshal took Kellie to where her sister was, there’d be no reason for MacGyver to hang around. That made everything she’d willingly participated in so far nothing but a weak, pathetic surrender to her animal instincts…or worse. What had she been thinking? And why the hell did the thought of him going back where he’d come from cause an ache of loneliness beneath her ribs?
A crack of thunder drew her focus back to the rain pelting the window. The storm seemed to let loose with renewed ferocity. Worry lanced through her. He was out in this deluge because of her, because he believed her. At one time, she’d had the trust of all her brothers-in-arms, but not anymore. Suddenly remembering MacGyver’s last words, she hurried to the door and turned the lock.
Twice, the black, short-box pickup had driven by slowly. In the dark, watching the storm, Kellie had tensed each time the truck appeared. When it’d moved on, she relaxed. After all, there were hundreds of people, locals and vacationers alike, who had good reasons for traveling these roads.
The third time, the pickup had stopped at the edge of the driveway and cut the lights. She’d waited only long enough to see the driver’s door open and a large man dressed all in black step out before she’d found a hiding place next to a bookshelf near the door. Several minutes had passed while her stomach tightened and twisted like a rung-out mop.