Guarding Raine Part 61

G.o.d, the look in her eyes made Mac want to yank out his tongue with

pliers.

And then he wanted to fold her in his arms and hold her tightly enough

to keep the world at bay.

But he didn't move.

He knew how fruitless such a move would be.

But that didn't stop his gut from knotting up at the haunted look on

her face.

"I never told you his name,"

-she whispered.

"I know."

His voice was low.

"He..."

She drew in a deep breath.

"You think he lives in L.A. now?"

Mac watched her carefully.

"He does."

She was visibly fighting not to show it, but he could read her shock as

react on set in.

Her hands began to tremble, and she clasped them tightly in her lap.

"I never even considered him,"

she whispered, as if to herself.

"I mean ... it just never occurred to me."

She stopped and collected herself.

When she looked at him again, her gaze was steadY.

"I think you'd better tell me the rest of it."

Watching her carefully, Mac told her how her father had hired the

investigator as soon as he'd heard about the letters.

Her mouth fir reed but she remained silent.

After he'd finis Bed she said,.

"And you just decided to keep all of this from me?"

"I didn't know ttbout it until we went to see your father that day.

That was the first Be told me of it."

"That was a while ago, Macauley. Are you saying it slipped your mind

since then?"

Her voice was caustic.

"No."

Her semblance of calm suddenly shattered.

"Then maybe you could explain why you kept this from me,"

she lashed out.

"And please don't forget the part about how you rationalized your

reasons for keeping me in the dark. I'm particularly interested in

hearing you explain why it was important for me not to know the

ident.i.ty of who might be stalking me."

With a frown, Mac suggested, "Let's talk about this later."

He felt sick .

at causing her upset, but he'd make the same decision again, given the opportunity.

There was no way of knowing, not even yet, if Burnett was involved.

And he hadn't wanted to put her through this if he didn't have to.

"NOW At his sharp look, she lowered her voice, but her words were no less firm. " We aren't going to put this off any longer.

I had a right to know everything about this case.

This is my life we're talking about.

When were you planning to tell me?

" " I wasn't going to tell you at all," he answered bluntly. " Burnett

has been watched for weeks now.

If nothing had linked him to the threats, I never would have mentioned him to you.

Neither would your father.

G.o.d, Raine, why would we put you through that h.e.l.l again unless we were

sure?

If I had my way, you still wouldn't know.

Not unless and until Burnett was in cuffs.

" Tears of frustration pooled in her eyes, and her fists clenched. "

Don't do that to me," she said painfully. " Don't try to s.h.i.+eld me from life and tell me you're protecting me, that it's for my own good.

No one can do that for a person, Macauley.

No one.

Believe me, I know, and I won't let anyone treat me like that again.

I've worked too hard facing what's wrong with my life to let some one

else make the decisions for it.I'd expect this behavior from my father.He's never going to change." The look in her eyes was accusing. " But I expected more from you." She got up and walked away. " Raine." She disappeared out the doorway. He got up and went after her. "

Dammir, Raine, wait." She continued to climb the stairs without turning, and when she gotto her room, the door closed behind her with a bang of finality. Heslammed his fist against the doorjamb, scowling in the direction she'ddisappeared. He'd known she would be shaken by hearing Burnett's name, especially in connection with her case. But her reaction went deeperthan that. He went to the office and dropped into his chair tiredly.He propped his elbows on the desktop and rested his chin on his claspedhands. It wasn't her reaction he was having difficulty figuring out.It was his own. He was too involved here, he'd known that for sometime. It was hard to dispute it when witnessing her pain was liketaking a punch to the gut. His phone rang, interrupting his morosethoughts. Eyeing it balefully, he gave a second's consideration tothrowing it out the window. Instead he picked up the receiver. " Hey,Mac, how's it going in the easy life?