LITMIR.BIZ

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not there,” he said. “Not yet, anyway. The cameras are all connected to the main house and to the main road that led to the ranch.”

      “What if I led someone here?” Ava asked as she stepped closer to Mark. “What if I did this?”

      “Nothing happened,” he told her flatly. “You didn’t do anything.” He nodded toward Ty. “Have the men search the grounds just in case. We don’t want to leave anything to chance.”

      Ty nodded and turned away. A few seconds later, Mark heard Ty barking orders to his men. Mark wanted to go and join the search, too, but he needed to make sure Ava was safe. “I thought I told you stay inside,” he said as he leaned in toward her.

      “I don’t always stay where I’m put.” Her voice held a distinct edge. “If there was a threat out here, I didn’t want you facing it alone.”

      Ava...riding to his rescue. And some folks thought she was weak? Those folks didn’t know her at all. “I just wanted you safe.”

      She stared up at him. “Are any of us ever really safe?”

      With her past, yes, she’d wonder that.

      “I want to help, and I don’t intend to help by hiding inside your house.” She straightened her shoulders. “If you’re searching, then I’m going with you.”

      “Ava...”

      “I...can’t wait in there alone.” Her voice was stark. “Don’t ask me to.”

      He understood. He offered his hand to her. “Stay with me every step?”

      Her smile flashed. “Of course. That’s how I keep you safe, right?”

      She had a gorgeous smile. One that winked dimples on each side of her mouth. He hadn’t seen that smile of hers in a long time. He’d missed it.

      The same way he’d missed her.

      Ava put her hand in his.

      * * *

      FROM HIS HIDING PLACE, he watched Ava McGuire and Mark Montgomery cross the paddock. Ava was making a huge mistake. She couldn’t trust Mark, not for an instant. She needed to realize how dangerous he was to her.

      Mark had been keeping secrets from Ava for years. He’d been lying to her. And now she was going to turn to the man for help? Wrong move, Ava. Wrong.

      In fact, that move could prove deadly for her.

      Ranch hands were scrambling around, checking on the horses, trying to make sure they were all safe. Mark stayed beside Ava every moment, but he didn’t think it was because he wanted to protect her.

       You just want her.

      In many ways, Mark Montgomery was just like his old man. When he saw something that he wanted, he took it, not caring at all for the consequences. Or for the shattered lives that he left in his wake.

      Mark wanted Ava, so he thought he’d take her.

       That won’t happen.

      Ava wasn’t going to be destroyed. The Montgomerys had already wrecked enough lives. Maybe it was time for Ava to learn the truth about her so-called hero.

      He slipped back into the shadows.

      Maybe it was time for everyone to learn the truth.

      * * *

      THEY SEARCHED THE PROPERTY but found no sign of an intruder. Mark headed back to the house with Ava by his side. She seemed tense next to him, and he knew she had to be exhausted. They’d spent at least an hour out there because—

       Because I wanted to make sure the jerk who has been harassing Ava didn’t follow her to my home.

      He shut the door behind them and set the alarm. “You should try to get some sleep.” He wasn’t touching her right then. Probably a good thing because the more he touched, the more he wanted.

       I had her in the bed beneath me. Her breast in my hand. In my mouth. She was moaning for me. Ava wanted me.

      And he’d been about thirty seconds away from taking the woman he wanted most.

      He turned away from her.

      “You’re not going to talk about it, are you?” Ava asked him.

      He locked his jaw. “The alarm went off. Maybe it malfunctioned. Maybe someone was here. I don’t—”

      She grabbed his arm and pulled him around to face her. “I’m not talking about the alarm. I’m talking about us!”

      He tried to unclench his back teeth. “There isn’t an us.” Even though he spent too much time thinking about her. Even though he wanted to strip her right then and get her back on a bed once more. Even though—

      “Why not?” Ava asked. Her eyes were big. Her gaze so deep. “Don’t you want me?”

      Wanting her sure wasn’t the problem. He cleared his throat. “The age...difference between us is—”

      “Bull.”

      He blinked.

      “So you’re a bit older than me. I’m not some kid. I’m in my twenties. I’ve got a graduate degree. I support myself.” She waved the age difference away. “My brothers have dated plenty of women who are older and younger than they are, so don’t give me that baloney. We’re both legal.”

      “Your brothers...they are my friends.”

      She exhaled. “Are you sure about that? Because Davis told me just a few months ago... He said you weren’t the man I thought you were.”

      And Davis had been acting odd around him ever since Detective Shayne Townsend had died. Mark didn’t know what was happening, but the McGuires had definitely put the freeze on him.

      “But I don’t really care what Davis thinks about you. I want you.”

      Then she leaned forward, trying to wrap her arms around him.

      He stepped back.

      Hurt flashed across her face.

      “Ava...”

      “You were kissing me like a desperate man earlier. Like you didn’t need anything more than me in the whole world.” She shook her head. “Now you back away from me? Why?”

      “Because I don’t want to hurt you.”

      A faint line appeared between her brows. “You wouldn’t! You never have. You’re the one who has always been there for me. Never judging, just accepting. You know all of my secrets.”

      “But you don’t know mine, Ava.” And that was the problem. He’d shielded her from that part of his life. Did the very best that he could not to taint her image of him.

      But Ava didn’t know the things he’d done. Ava didn’t know about the dark core inside of him and, for her sake, he hoped that she never did.

      Ava had always looked at him as if he were some kind of hero. He wasn’t. He was about as far from hero material as a man could get. If she knew the things he’d done, Ava would never let him so much as touch her again. And that’s why she won’t ever know.

      “Go to sleep,” he told her because he had to put some distance between them. He couldn’t be that close to Ava and not feel her sensual pull. “It’s been a long day.” He walked away from her.

      * * *

      AVA STARED AFTER MARK, narrowing her eyes. He was seriously just walking away? She wanted to scream at the man. Finally, finally, they’d been close. The desire had been burning between them. There had been no barriers. Nothing at all holding them back, and now—

      Now he was pulling away.

      

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