Dusk Til Dawn Page 5

  Annie glanced back at the photo, not sure whether to be embarrassed or relieved she’d been caught. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have been snooping.”

  He shrugged, pushing off the wooden frame as he joined her by the dresser. He picked up the photo, seemingly warring with himself, before handing it to her. “I’m guessing you’ve already found me in there.”

  She studied him, noting the tight press of his mouth and the fine lines around his eyes. His voice was laced with pain, and she wondered if he’d ever shown the image to anyone.

  Her gaze dropped to the picture. “On the edge, just like I thought.” She caught herself a moment too late, immediately cursing her honesty.

  Dylan’s body stiffened then relaxed. “Right. On the edge. Part of the group but…distant.”

  She grimaced. “Dylan. I didn’t mean to—”

  He silenced her with a shake of his head. “No. You’re right. That was taken just before I asked to be discharged. A couple of months after my buddy Colin was killed. The unit just wasn’t the same for me. I tried to push through it, but…”

  Her gaze dropped to the flag in the corner.

  He glanced at it, a hollow chuckle rumbling free. “Colin didn’t have any family. His parents had died in a car accident when he was twelve. He’d grown up in the system and joined the military straight out of high school. They gave me the flag…guess I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet.”

  Annie watched him shuffle his feet. This was far more than she’d ever expected him to reveal, and she didn’t know whether to punch him in the arm as a show of affection or beg him to make love to her. The thought caught her off guard, and she wrapped her arms around herself, unnerved by the way he seemed to get under her skin and sink his claws into her heart.

  She met his gaze. “I had a client—Rolland—ex-Army Ranger. He left me his baseball card collection after committing suicide last year. I’d thought he was healing…that we were dealing with the phobias, the nightmares…the hallucinations. Never saw it coming until I walked into my office and found him on my couch.” She released a heavy breath. “I don’t think I ever really understood how much damage a bullet wound did. How much blood there’d be.”

  “Fuck. Annie.” His jaw flexed, and he reached for her before he seemed to come to his senses. His hands dropped to his side as he accepted the frame she returned to him.

  She brushed her fingers over his before taking a step back. “Anyway, I thought you might find it comforting to know that the box is still sitting in my closet, exactly the way he’d wrapped it up for me. Sometimes, doing nothing means everything.” She nodded at the bathroom. “Is that shower for me?”

  He nodded, tensing his body before moving to the doorway. “I put clean towels for you on the counter, and there should be everything you need to get rid of that lovely scent.” He grinned this time, the old facade returning. “Though you run the risk of smelling like me instead.”

  “Pine trees and spice I can handle.”

  “Then I’ll leave you to it. Oh, and I’ll make sure you have a clean shirt on the bed for after. I can loan you some track pants too, if you’d like.”

  “That’d be great. Thanks.”

  “My pleasure, doc.”

  She shook her head as he walked out, pulling the door closed behind him. She sank down on the bed, groaning when the mattress gave beneath her weight. It was all too easy to picture Dylan poised beside her, his naked body gleaming in the flashes of lightning. She imagined his muscles flexing as he crawled toward her, pinning her to the bed while his mouth roved over her body, finding every sensuous spot she had before rising above her and thrusting between her legs—filling her in a way no man had ever done before.

  The images rocked her to her core, and she pushed to her feet, practically sprinting to the shower, closing the door firmly behind her. God, what the hell had come over her? It was bad enough she lusted after a man she’d only met an hour ago, but there wasn’t any logical reason for why she’d confided in him. Hell, she hadn’t told Tempie half as much as she had Dylan, and her sister had always been her closest friend.

  She glanced in the mirror, groaning at her reflection. Her hair looked as if she’d been through a wind tunnel, with strands stuck to the side of her face, and she had smudges of black smeared across her jaw.

  “Great. Nothing says sexy like hundred-year-old dirt smeared across your face.”

  Not that it mattered. Dylan was off limits. He was Avery’s brother for god’s sake. And even if there had been a hint of mutual attraction, she knew he’d never lower his walls long enough to be more than a memory she’d never be able to share.

  The thought cooled the arousal coursing through her veins as she slipped off his jacket and removed her pants, laying them over the counter. Steam billowed up from inside the shower, making the air heavy around her. She glanced once more at the door to his bedroom, wondering how they’d spend the rest of the evening before bowing her head in defeat. Damn the man and his wounded soul, not that he’d allow her to heal it, but she sure as hell wanted to.

  No—she needed to.

  She cursed his irresistible smile as she hung one of the towels over the glass door, grabbing her cell out of her back jeans’ pocket. She swiped at the face then touched the music icon, sighing when her favorite song mixed with the soothing sound of water splashing on the tiles. Her voice joined in as she turned back to the shower and opened the door.

  Chapter Four

  Dylan leaned against the bedroom door, trying to calm the erratic pounding of his heart. His legs trembled, and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stay on his feet. He hadn’t spoken about Colin in years, and seeing the compassion and understanding in Annie’s eyes had damn near killed him. Knowing she blamed herself for her client’s death hadn’t made the situation any easier. He’d wanted to reach out—offer her some form of comfort—but he wasn’t sure he knew how anymore. He cocked his head toward the bedroom, listening to Annie pad across the floor. The bathroom door made an audible click as she closed it, easing the tight feeling constricting his chest.

  He gulped in a much-needed breath, finally shoving off the door. This was insane. He was an ex-soldier…hell, and ex-Delta member. He’d parachuted into hostile territory. Had infiltrated enemy compounds and performed precision-sensitive maneuvers without batting an eye. Surely, he could be in the same room as a woman without wanting to tear off her clothes and toss her on his bed. Or more dangerously, let her into his heart.

  Heart.

  The word felt awkward on his tongue, and he was thankful he didn’t have to say it out loud. He hadn’t considered the possibility he still had a heart, and just the thought Annie might resurrect the damn thing scared him more than any mission ever had. She was stubborn and strong, with a quick wit, not to mention reflexes. He’d known he was in trouble the moment her flashlight had illuminated her face and she’d kneed his groin in defense. He hadn’t planned on tackling her to the ground, but when her foot had caught in the blanket, he’d reacted on instinct, diving at her in an effort to cushion her impact.

  But that’s where it’d all fallen apart.

  Where he’d realized he liked the feel of her beneath him, her small fingers clenched around his shoulders, her warm skin moving against his. At first he’d thought it was mere sexual attraction—after all, the woman was beautiful, with full, pink lips and deep blue eyes. The way her hair fell in a cascade of brown silk around her shoulders or how her body had all the right curves. Then she’d looked beneath the surface, and he’d had to force himself not to bolt. If it hadn’t been for the threat of the ghost…

  “Fuck!”

  Insanity seemed the only viable explanation. He’d finally lost his mind—ten years, a dozen missions and one impossible situation had pushed him over the edge. That and Avery. Dylan growled. If he hadn’t planned the prank personally, he’d have thought for certain his brother had set him up. But he’d recognized the flash of surprise when Avery’s gaze had met his,
and he knew this was completely his own doing.

  Dylan took a few heavy steps away. He needed to regain some measure of control. Figure out exactly what was going on and how to end it…preferably before Ms. Annie Dunnigan broke through any more of his walls. Or worse, he knocked them down and welcomed her inside.

  He chuckled, the rough sound hollow in the empty hallway. “Not bloody likely.” He reached for his cell. He needed to call Avery. Get the man to give him something—anything—to go on so he could drive Annie home and go back to being alone.

  He patted his pockets, swearing when he realized he’d put his phone in his jacket pocket. Dylan glanced at the door. Chances were Annie was already in the shower. Between the steam and the tempered glass, he’d get nothing more than a blurred outline of her if he snuck in and grabbed his cell. God knows how long she might be in there, and every minute was another opportunity for him to weaken his resolve and act on the scorching need pulsing his cock against his jeans.

  He returned to the door, easing it open. The hinges groaned in protest, but the creak barely registered above the sound of beating water and an angelic voice. He paused to listen. Though music filled in the empty spaces, there was no doubt Annie’s voice followed along, rising and falling as she mimicked the melody. He shook his head. Brains, beauty and a voice that could lead men to their deaths…just the kind of distraction he didn’t need.

  He headed for the bathroom, humming along as he slowly turned the handle, swinging open the door. A swirl of steam obscured his view. He waved at the thick air, blinking against the steam. “Hey, Annie. I’m just grabbing…”

  His voice rumbled into a throaty groan as she appeared out of the mist. Pale skin gleamed in the bright light, the flawless perfection of it leaving him breathless. She turned toward him, her voice cutting off into a startled gasp as she stared at him, eyes wide, mouth pursed into a delightful O. He tried to tear his gaze away, but the soft play of her flesh over her lean muscles as she took a step back held him immobile. She was stunning. From the firm press of her thighs to the alluring curve of her waist. Rosy nipples beaded on pert breasts, the small peaks pointing toward him. His focus slid to her hips, and every thought merged into one revelation.

  She was bare. Not a hint of hair marred the soft skin of her sex as it called to him, a trace of glistening fluid stopping his heart cold.

  He raised his gaze, finally looking her in the eye. She seemed as much a prisoner of the moment as he was, her eyes dilated and heavy-lidded. She coughed as she swallowed, the simple sound snapping him free.

  Dylan sucked in a harsh breath, finally looking away as she appeared to come to her sense, grabbing at the towel hanging over the shower door. His pulse thrummed loud in his head, the incessant pounding dimming his vision at the edges. He reached for the counter, using the hard surface to brace his weight as he took stock of the situation. And what he discovered wasn’t good.

  He groaned. God, how had he managed to make things worse?

  He scrubbed his hand down his face before turning to her, hoping she didn’t toss a shampoo bottle at his head. “God, Annie, I’m so sorry…”

  His voice trailed off as his gaze locked on hers. He’d expected to see fury flashing in her eyes, but that wasn’t what he saw in her expression. She was shocked, but amused and, if he wasn’t mistaken, noticeably aroused.

  She gave him a shake of her head before leaning against the shower wall. “I’ll give you this much…you certainly take guarding a woman’s body seriously. Let me guess. You thought our ghostly friend might try and spy on me in the shower?”

  If he has half a brain…

  Dylan clamped his mouth shut before he made more of an ass of himself, though he had to admit, she’d turned the tables on him. Again.

  He released a weary breath, grabbing his jacket off the counter. “I remembered I’d put my cell in my jacket and…I figured you’d be in the shower already.”

  He cursed when her lips quirked. Now that he heard his idea out loud, it sounded even more suspect than when he’d only been thinking it.

  He gave her an apologetic smile. “Yeah. It sounds pretty lame to me, too.”

  Her breathy chuckle caught him off-guard. “I’m sure I’m not the first woman you’ve seen naked, not that my clothing choice from earlier hid that much.”

  “Definitely the most beautiful, and I’d be the last man to complain about your choice in clothes.”

  A light blush crept up her cheeks, and he cursed under his breath. Now wasn’t the time to be flirting with her. Hell, now wasn’t the time to be considering anything with her.

  She pulled the edges of the towel tighter, seemingly confused by the frown he felt gracing his lips. “If you’ve got what you needed…” She motioned to the shower.

  “Right. Sorry.”

  He backed out, watching her until the door blocked out the room beyond. He clicked it closed, glancing up at the ceiling before turning and leaning against the wall. He’d never had such an overwhelming attraction to someone, let alone a woman he’d just met. And Temperance’s little sister to boot. If only he could kick his own ass.

  He drew in a deep breath as he grabbed a shirt and some sweats out of his closet for her, tossing them on the bed before heading for the stairs. He needed to end this, now, before he was so far gone that the only way out was letting Annie in. He swiped the face of his cell, dialing Avery’s number as he made his way into the living room. But even down a level he could hear the haunting echo of her voice. He closed his eyes, but it only brought back vivid images of her body. How her skin looked so soft, he swore he could mark it with nothing more than the brush of his tongue. Or how her feet had shuffled under his predatory gaze, making the lips of her sex move ever so slightly.

  “Fuck!”

  “Generally people prefer to use some form of hello as a greeting, but then you are unique.”

  Dylan growled at his brother’s flippant tone. The man could be more than infuriating at times. “Very funny. Just tell me you’ve got this thing figured out, and I can take Annie home now.” A rustle sounded through the earpiece, and Dylan knew Avery was trying not to laugh.

  “What’s wrong? The woman getting under your skin? Afraid she might actually make you give a damn?”

  Dylan clenched his jaw, hissing his breath out slowly. “Dangerous territory, little brother, and not somewhere I think you want to go with me. Now do you have any answers or not?”

  “We’re going through the recorders now. There’s a bunch of activity, but it’s hard to narrow down what pertains to the ghost we saw manifest and what’s just residual noise. I don’t suppose your tech gurus have told you anything about the paper or the hair?”

  “I haven’t dropped them off yet. Annie needed to shower, so I stopped at my place first.”

  Avery’s breath caught in a raspy inhalation. “You took her to your place?”

  “You told me not to leave her alone. I figured you were serious.”

  “I was… it’s just…when’s the last time you took a woman home?”

  “She’s not a woman.”

  Avery chuckled.

  Dylan cursed again. “You know what I mean. She’s Temperance’s little sister. Period.”

  “Methinks the man doth protest too much.”

  “You’re an ass.”

  “So my wife continually reminds me.” Avery sighed. “And I know for a fact you’ve never taken a woman home before. You always go to her place.”

  “The significance of which has nothing to do with the current situation.” Dylan huffed into the phone. “But if you must know, while my brain’s telling me this is nothing more than a weird atmospheric anomaly, I wasn’t going to take any chances with her safety. And I’ll have better success if I’m somewhere familiar.”

  “Right. It’s all about keeping her safe.”

  “Can we just skip the matchmaking efforts and get back to business. What am I supposed to be doing? What makes my place or hers safer than that dilapidate
d building where you and Temperance are? Wouldn’t it have been wiser to stay with you?”

  “There are several reasons for having you leave. First, it’s difficult to do a proper investigation when you’re distracted by a relentless stream of questions. We both know that if you and Annie had stayed, it would have been non-stop critiquing of everything Temperance and I did.”

  Dylan snorted. “Not nice…but accurate. What else?”

  “We really do need those tests run on the paper and hair, in case nothing here pans out. I suspect the hair has been entombed in that glass since our friend was bound. Hopefully that means it’s less contaminated.”

  “Hard to say. But I get the feeling that’s not the real reason you wanted us to leave.”

  Avery chuckled. “And you claim I’m the mind reader.”

  “You are. I just know you. So what gives?”

  Avery sighed. “Sometimes it’s helpful to know what kind of attachment we’re dealing with. Since you two were the ones to free the spirit, I needed to know whether the ghost was still bound to the house or whether it could leave.”

  “But we saw it leave. I still don’t believe it, but damn, it just…disappeared.”

  “Disappearing isn’t the same as leaving. Manifesting requires a large amount of energy. Spirits vanish when their energy supply is drained, but that doesn’t mean it won’t return once it recharges, if you will. Simply put…it’s where he reappears that’s important.”

  “Reappear?” Dylan scoffed. “So this ghost might reappear here?”

  “That’s what we need to find out.”

  Dylan growled. “Are you seriously telling me you set me and Annie up as bait?”

  “Not bait. If this ghost is feeding off you two and not this house, it’ll come after you no matter where you are. If it shows up here…without you…that changes things. But if it pays you a visit at your house without us…” He released a weary sounding breath. “Just follow the instructions I put in the bag. And call me if anything happens.”

  Dylan pulled the phone away for a moment, glancing around his place. Shadows stained the corners a disturbing shade of gray, and it seemed as if the air felt charged.