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  “You all right?” Alexander asked.

  She looked back at Dominic. “I am now.”

  “Who is this?” Alexander’s voice was calm, but held a deadly undertone.

  “My ex-husband.”

  Dominic glared as he walked toward them. Alexander released her only long enough to edge her behind him.

  She peered around his shoulder, her body tensing as she clasped his left shoulder. “Alexander, wait.”

  “Who the hell are you?” Dominic asked, keeping considerable distance between them.

  She found her voice and stepped out from behind Alexander. “Dominic, this is my friend General Alexander Graham. Alexander, Dominic Cantrelli.”

  Neither man extended a hand, but that didn’t surprise her. They were too busy staring each other down.

  “General, eh?” Dominic smirked. “I’ve heard of you. You run that hot shot security outfit.”

  “Sentry Security.” Alexander’s voice was flat and no nonsense.

  “Right.” Dominic smiled. That self-assured, confident cop grin that made everyone trust him even when they shouldn’t. “I was worried about Patty and thought I’d check on her.”

  “I can see that,” Alexander said. “But she’s all right now. I’m making sure of it.”

  A wave of uncharacteristic heat flashed through her body at Alexander’s decisive tone. Whoa. Dominic had tried to dominate her in their relationship, never protect her, and Alexander’s possessive statement made everything feminine inside her take notice. At the same time she was pissed. She could handle herself, and these men were acting as if she was a china doll.

  She stepped out from behind Alexander. “Gentlemen, it’s getting cold out here. Time to go home.”

  Dominic eyeballed Alexander as if he was making up his mind, and the tension drew tighter by the second.

  “If I find out you’ve hurt her in any way, I’ll kick your soldier-boy ass,” Dominic said.

  She glanced up at Alexander. His stone-cold expression didn’t change. “You could try.”

  “I’d succeed.”

  “Stop it,” Patty said in frustration.

  Dominic nodded. “Take care, Patty.”

  Her ex went down the alley and when he disappeared, Alexander reached for her. He clasped her arm gently. What looked like genuine fear flashed through his eyes. “You all right? Did he hurt you? When I saw him hovering over you like that it scared the shit out of me.”

  Her mouth flopped open. This was the most emotion she’d seen Alexander display in a year. “I’m…no, he didn’t hurt me. Scared the crap out of me, though.”

  With a gentle tug he directed her down the alley. “Let’s get you home. It’s damned cold out here. We can talk more there.”

  After she’d locked herself in her car, he left the alley. When she pulled out onto the street she was relieved to see Alexander’s black SUV waiting for her. She glanced around and noted the traffic was thin, with no sign of Dominic anywhere. She turned west toward home, her headlights cutting through the whiteout. As she drove the few miles that led to the outskirts of town, the way was slow going. Conditions were worsening by the minute and making visibility nasty. When she reached her home surrounded by four acres, she kept her eyes on the slick road. When she pulled into her driveway, she was glad to see lights on in the two houses nearby. It wasn’t as if she lived out in the boonies, exactly. Her neighbors were nice people—they’d all banded together during the Long Valley Super Volcano event. She clicked the opener on the driver’s side visor, and the garage door opened. She drove into the garage, killed the engine and got out.

  Alexander’s black SUV parked along the curve of the driveway. The blizzard screeched, the wind now battering the area with heavy winds. She stood just within the shelter of the garage, her keys open and at the ready. Alexander trotted up the driveway, his boots making tracks.

  He stopped inside the garage as well and pushed his hood off. “Damn, this storm is the biggest one this winter.” He pulled out his wallet and withdrew a business card. He handed it to her. “Here’s my card. You can get me at this number any time day or night. Do you feel safe here tonight?”

  “I’ll be fine. Thanks so much for following me home.”

  “Your ex…are you afraid of him?”

  She blinked. “Not until tonight. The way he snuck up on me in the alley…I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him in over a year. He said that there are some guys he arrested that have threatened to hurt the people he loves.”

  Alexander’s expression turned to visible concern. “Maybe you should come back to Sentry Security with me.”

  Surprised, she didn’t know what to say for a moment.

  He held up on hand. “That isn’t a come on. My team and their wives live there and so do I. You could stay in one of the extra rooms.”

  Caution filled the pit of her stomach. “That’s very kind, but I’m fine here.”

  He nodded. “All right. But if you change your mind call me.”

  “I will thanks.”

  “Do you want me to check the house?”

  She laughed softly. “Alexander, you’re sweet, but no. I’m good.”

  He held up both hands this time. “I surrender. Okay if I call you tomorrow?”

  Heat warmed her cheeks. “Sure. I’m planning on sleeping in. So how about late morning?”

  She gave him her number and he put it into his smart phone. He waved and she watched him get into SUV. He waited until she’d closed the garage door before she heard him drive away. Once she entered the house, she wished she’d let him check the house. She quickly went into survival mode, checking and double checking the two thousand square foot house thoroughly. She flipped on light after light, and kept her cell phone tucked into her pants pocket. Even after she’d made sure the house was secure, she stayed up for several hours that night tossing and turning and with lights on. Long Valley had upended everyone’s world in one way or the other, but Dominic’s appearance brought fresh concerns to her mind.

  Now that Dominic had returned to town, her instincts went on high alert. Something definitely wasn’t right.

  Chapter 2

  Alexander sat around the table in the war room at Sentry Security and stared at his team. Mark O’Day, Ian MacDaniel and Adam Becker. They were starting a new contract Monday morning and Alexander had finished briefing the men on what they’d be doing for the next few months. Yet Alexander couldn’t seem to keep his mind on his business, and that royally freaked him out. One thing he could always count on in his life, both as a military man and a security contractor, was his ability to stay focused. This was the second time during the meeting his attention drifted to thoughts of Patty Reynolds. It didn’t help that the day-old donuts they’d all devoured moments ago kept him from forgetting her long enough to conduct the meeting.

  Mark chewed the last bite of an eclair and wiped his hands on a paper napkin.

  “You okay, General?” Adam Becker asked from across the table.

  Alexander jerked his attention back to the men. He cleared his throat. “Of course I’m okay.”

  “You didn’t finish telling us something that you said was very important,” Ian said.

  Mark didn’t say a word, a cocky smile on his face as if he knew exactly why Alexander couldn’t seem to get his shit together.

  Alexander cleared his throat again and folded his hands over his stomach. He relaxed into his big chair. “I’m planning on inviting someone to live in the complex, and I wanted to make sure you’d all be comfortable with it. The women, too, of course. I’ve already mentioned this to Penny.”

  Mark cocked one eyebrow. “This guest wouldn’t be a lady friend of yours, would it?”

  Alexander ignored Mark’s insinuating tone. “You all know her. Patty Reynolds from Patty’s Bakery.”

  Alexander scanned all their faces; every last one of them looked intrigued. Too damned intrigued. Adam looked as if he was trying to hold in a smile. Ian scratched his chin, but
there was a knowing expression on his face as he turned his attention to his watch. Mark kept his shit-eating grin.

  “She’s a really nice woman,” Adam said. “And you’ve mentioned her quite a few times over the last year. Like at least once a week.”

  Heat crawled into Alexander’s face. Damn it. He didn’t blush. Yet he couldn’t deny making this decision brought him a lot of discomfort. He hadn’t felt this out of control around a woman in a long time. He hadn’t suffered with a building longing to be with a woman until now, and a staggering desire that felt like it might burn a hole clear through him.

  “Why is she moving in here?” Ian asked, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

  Alexander rushed to explain. “I don’t know for certain she’s moving in. I haven’t asked her yet. She might say no.” He leaned forward and anchored his elbows on the table. “Look, last night I stopped by to see her at the bakery. I was coming back from that meeting and saw the bakery lights were still on. I was worried because almost every shop on the street had closed early because of the blizzard. She was there by herself. I told her I’d follow her home to make sure she got there safe. Her ex-husband turned up in the alley behind her bakery.”

  “Shit,” Adam said, concern narrowing his eyes. “What happened then?”

  “It was taking her too long to appear and I went out back to see what the problem was. He was intimidating her. She said she was okay, but I got some seriously weird vibes off the man. I don’t like it. Then she told me that he says some people he arrested once are intent on hurting the people he loves. That makes me very nervous. When I go over to her place today I’m going to see if she wants to move in here for a short time. Just until her ex cools off.”

  “You think he’s stalking her?” Mark asked, bristling like a porcupine.

  Alexander sighed. “I don’t know enough about the situation to be certain. But I’m going to find out. So if you guys will support me in helping her, I’d appreciate it.”

  Ian nodded enthusiastically. “Of course, General. Hell, you understood when we wanted our women to move in here. There’s still a lot of wankers out there intent on doing harm. Maybe the disaster caused her ex-husband to go mental.”

  His woman. Yeah, if he was one hundred percent honest with himself that’s how he felt about Patty. Like it or not, she’d grabbed him by the gonads, and he couldn’t shake it. Had he ever tried to shake it? No. Slowly but surely the friendship he’d developed with her had changed into something deeper for him. Problem is, he didn’t know if she felt that way. Maybe she’d tell him to take a flying leap. If she did he’d respect her wishes, of course.

  Mark chimed in with, “I can’t see the ladies having a problem with Patty coming here.”

  “I don’t see an issue either, especially if you think she’s under threat. Of course we’d help her,” Adam said.

  “Thank you,” Alexander said, relieved he wouldn’t get any pushback.

  Satisfied with their answers, he moved to the next thing on the agenda.

  * * * *

  Patty’s phone rang just as she sipped her second cup of coffee. She grabbed her cell and saw Alexander’s name flash on the screen. Undeniable happiness lit up inside her.

  “Morning, Alexander,” she said when she answered.

  “Hey.” His voice was casual. “Everything okay there?”

  “Absolutely. If it wasn’t you’d be the first to know.” Oh, hell. Did I say that out loud?

  “Looks like the weather is kicking our ass.”

  “How much snow do you have on your side of town?” she asked.

  “Give or take a foot. At least it’s stopped snowing.”

  “Same here. But I’m from Maine. I’m used to this weather.”

  “I’m from Boston originally, but twenty degrees in Maine is friggin’ cold,” he said.

  “Ah, I thought your voice had a little ring of Boston in it.” She exaggerated a Boston accent. “You know, pahking the cah.”

  He laughed. “Come on now. My accent isn’t that thick. I’ve lived too many places.”

  She laughed, wishing he was sitting with her on the couch enjoying coffee and cuddling. Cuddling? Oh, Patty. Didn’t seem likely that Alexander would have a cuddly bone in his body.

  She shifted on the couch to look out the window. She placed her mug on the coffee table in front of her. “I’m not opening the bakery today.”

  “Good. I have some work to do around town, but I’d like to stop by your place after I’ve finished business if that’s all right with you.”

  Wow. Inviting himself over, eh? “Okay. I can fix us lunch.”

  “Sounds great. Say about twelve thirty?”

  “That will work. See you soon. Take care driving in the snow.”

  “Will do,” he said.

  After they hung up, Patty looked down at her shabby red flannel shirt, a size too big, and the baggy sweat pants. She quickly headed into her bedroom and changed into flannel lined jeans and boots. When she realized what she was doing, she scoffed and left on her baggy flannel shirt. It was warm and she’d always been more practical than apt to dress up for guests. Although she wasn’t one for makeup, she did wear it on special occasions. She went into the bathroom and stared into the mirror. She glared at her skeptical expression. Was this a special occasion? Even a date?

  Probably not.

  Sure, she had some lines around her brown eyes, as well as a line or two near her mouth that no amount of moisturizing erased. At forty-five she’d abandoned the idea she needed wrinkle cream. And those gray hairs, few as she had, would just have to keep comin’. She didn’t plan to dye her hair. Besides, going natural was popular these days. After the apocalyptic wrath of the volcano, a lot of life had boiled down to essentials, with fewer women concerned about glamming it up. Not that she ever had; it wasn’t a part of her personality.

  Despite that, she grabbed her mineral makeup from the cabinet below the sink and started to work with a kabuki brush and other makeup tools. When she finished she had a light application of shadow, mascara, foundation and blush. Barely enough to make a dent, but it appeased her feminine side. She left her thick hair flowing around her shoulders. There. Alexander Graham could take it or leave it. Okay Patty. You wouldn’t have put that makeup on for anyone else. Fess up.

  She forced herself to continue what she’d normally do on a Saturday. Laundry. A load of towels spun in the dryer when she heard a car. She glanced out the side window and saw Alexander’s SUV pull up right at twelve thirty. Excitement purred under her skin and all through her body. She wondered if her hormones were firing, because she hadn’t reacted to any man like this in ages. Well, okay, she had reacted this way to Alexander since she’d met him, right from the first day. She’d always attributed it to an animal attraction. Still, it didn’t fade, growing hotter every time she saw him.

  She smiled to herself. “Hormones. That’s all it is.”

  Caution brought her up short. Despite being acquainted with Alexander a year, she didn’t know him that well.

  She opened the front door. “Come on in. There’s coffee and I have some homemade soup ready to heat.”

  “God, that sounds like heaven.” He stamped his boots on the porch, knocking off most of the white stuff.

  After she let him in and closed and locked the door, she took his coat.

  “Sorry. I should have come through your garage,” he said.

  “No problem. Take off your boots here. The mat will take care of them.”

  He removed his boots and left them on the mat. Now he stood in her small foyer, glancing around and looking dangerous as hell even in stocking feet. Today he wore a thick red sweater over a black turtleneck.

  “I’ll put your stuff in the closet. Kitchen is right through there. We can eat in the breakfast nook.”

  He turned and headed to the kitchen, and her gaze snagged on the way his jeans molded his tight butt. She swallowed hard. Oh, yeah. She had it bad. Problem was, she didn’t
know what to do with this persistent fantasy. She used the few moments putting his coat and gloves into the closet to compose herself. When she entered the kitchen he stood by the counter looking a bit uncertain.

  “Coffee?” she asked. “I’ll put the soup on. It’s a great recipe. Do you like leek and potato?”

  His nose wrinkled the slightest bit. “I’ve never tried it. And yeah, I’d love coffee. Black, please.”

  “Today’s your day.” She poured a refill into her mug and then filled a mug for him. “You’re going to love my soup.”

  “I’m sure if you make it I will.” A warm smile broke over his face.

  There it was. His flattering statement, combined with a landscape-altering grin, made her stomach tingle with appreciation for his masculinity. Now she knew—his face did transform into positively gorgeous when he cranked out a smile like that. Her breath snagged. She covered it by clearing her throat. When she gave him the coffee he sat at one barstool and held the mug between both palms.

  She busied herself at the stove heating the soup. “So how did your day go?”

  “Crazy. It was fun sliding across town and getting to appointments on time. People are driving way too fast for the conditions.”

  “Sounds par for the course.”

  He laughed. “Yeah.”

  He filled her in on a couple of meetings he’d attended with potential clients and their conversation dried up a moment later. He stared into the distance while she stirred the soup. When the soup was ready they took their large bowls to the breakfast nook. Sitting in the cozy, octagon-shaped nook with large windows gave her a sense of comfort. Having this man with her completed the picture.

  “This soup is fantastic,” he said after trying one spoonful. He ate a piece of bread she’d made in the bakery. “And so is this bread. A little piece of heaven.”

  “Thank you. Flattery will get you another package of donuts.”

  He patted his stomach. “Better not. If I keep eating this well, I’ll get fat.”

  She snorted softly as she eyeballed his excellent physique. Her imagination went right for the gutter as she wondered what he’d look like without all those winter clothes.