Guarding Raine Part 6

she announced baldly.

"Go ahead with the other security measures we discussed. Then you can get on that plane, and I'll deal with my father."

"No."

He rinsed the pan and dried it with a towel hanging above the counter.

"Where do you want this?"

"What do you mean, no?"

she demanded.

"Darn it, turn around and look at me. What's my father given you to

make you this unreasonable?"

He did face her then, and impatience was written on his hard features.

"It's not what he's given me, it's what I gave him. My word. I won't

leave until I'm sure you're safe, and that's final. Drop it, Raine."

She stared at him in frustration.

He stared back implacably.

She was the first to look away.

"A bodyguard is an xtremc measure, I can a.s.sure you. The police haven't seemed all that concerned about a few notes and phone calls,

since no actual physical threats have been made. If you'd just talk to them, you'd understand."

"They probably won't talk to me,"

he responded, startling her.

"I'll call the detective in charge, 'of course, but I'm pretty sure it

will be useless. Information on cases like these is shared on a

need-to-know basis."

Experience had taught him that the police would pump him for any information he could give them on the case, but would be d.a.m.n reluctant to share any of their own.

"You'll have to fill me in on what's been going on since the threats hegan, and I'll be talking to the people who spend a lot of time out here. I'll draw my own conclusions."

He set the pan on the stove and turned to face her again.

"If I decide that you're in no real danger, that's what I'll tell your father."

Raine considered his promise.

A part of her, one she hadn't wanted to listen to, had wondered just

how secure a few more h.e.l.ls and alarms were going to make her feel.

But this man's word would be something else entirely.

If he was able to stay long enough to see the work through, he'd have

enough information at his disposal to judge her situation accurately, And if, at that time, he was able to a.s.sure her she was safe, she knew she'd believe him.

The mere thought of having him in such close proximity had all her

nerves quivering.

And she wasn't totally sure that it was only her wariness of strangers, and of men in general, that caused such a response.

There was something disturbing about Mac--no, Macauley--O'Neill.

She chewed her bottom lip.

His sheer size and uncompromising stance were intimidating.

There was no reason to trust him, and with her history, trust didn't

come easily.

Could she really risk the, resurgence of all her old fears by letting this man stay?

Could she risk sending him away?

"All right,"

she said slowly, struck by the finality of her words.

"You can stay."

His face was impa.s.sive.

He obviously hadn't expected the outcome to be any different.

"When we start working, I'll need access to the entire house and

everything in it."

"My studio,"

she informed him firmly, "is off-limits."

"There may he wiring that needs to be don el he warned.

"And when we get to the windows..."

She winced a little, already dreading the day that the one haven left

to her would be disturbed by workers and pounding hammers.

"I'll understand when work needs to be done there."

He watched her intently for a moment more, but she seemed to be

sincere.

He gave an abrupt nod, "All right, then."

Obviously finished, he turned and headed for the door.

"You can move your things into the first bedroom on the right,"

she called after him, a little surprised at the rustiness of her

voice.

He didn't acknowledge her words, and a moment later the front door closed behind him.

Leaning weakly against the counter, she wiped her damp palms on her

thighs.

She felt as though she'd just been run over by a steamroller.

Already she was having second thoughts about her decision.

She didn't imagine that they'd be her last during his time here.

But it would only be for a while, she a.s.sured herself.

Surely it would only be a couple of weeks before things would get back