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"Meg? What's going on? What has that asshole gotten you involved in this time?"
Rubbing the nape of her neck and rotating her head, she softly stated, "It appears he stole something from a drug cartel."
"That son of a bitch. He's just got to go. He's not even around, and he's getting you into trouble again. What the fuck?"
"Hey! Kids," Derek said sharply as he entered the kitchen, their youngest daughter, Sarah Jo, on his hip.
"Momma said a bad word." The little three-year-old giggled and covered her mouth with her tiny hands.
"Yes, and I'm very sorry. Let's get you some breakfast." Jolie took her daughter from her husband and settled her at the table. Catching Ford's gaze, Megan nodded toward the living room. Instinctively, upon entering the room, she glanced out the window and saw Marcus' car round the corner, having just passed the house. Again.
"I don't have anywhere to go, Ford." She let the curtain fall once again and turned to face him.
"You don't have family somewhere who can help you?"
She shook her head. Her brother was on an offshore oil rig somewhere, and her sister hadn't spoken to her for six years since she'd inherited her grandmother's house—the house that was now a pile of ashes. Ironic.
"I know a place. It's only about ninety miles from here. Safe, secluded, and no one will know you're there. It's clean and private, but great visibility, should someone try to get close to the house."
She looked into his eyes and saw sincerity, but why was he helping her? "Right. Don't tell me, let me guess; it's your house?"
The corner of his sexy lips tipped up. "Sort of. Used to be, I guess. It's vacant now, and it's safe. Do I need to remind you that you have nowhere else to go?"
She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly to keep her heart from beating out of her chest. Panicking right now was not a great idea. Suddenly, her peaceful life was falling apart in a sea of chaos and deep shit. Fucking Waylon.
"Megan." She looked up at him, again taken with his presence. "You can't put Jolie and her family in danger."
Glancing toward the kitchen, her heart sank. He was right about that. She probably already had put them in the sights of Marcus. That was stupid.
"He knows where they live." She fought the tears that threatened.
"We can let him follow us for a bit. He'll know you aren't here and perhaps keep looking for you or focus on Waylon once you're gone."
"How do you know?"
"You don't have a choice, Megan." He stepped closer to her, and she could smell him. His scent was leather and woodsy and so masculine. It fit him so perfectly.
"Why do you care?" She refused to step back and make him think he intimidated her, even though shewasa little intimidated. The way things worked in her life, he'd begin to help her, then disappear like every other man in her life, so she looked at his chest to keep her focus.
"Look." His strong, firm fingers cupped her chin and lifted her face up to look into his eyes. "I have a stake in getting Waylon and Bobby Ray, but that doesn't mean I'd throw you or anyone else to the wolves to get them. And, look around, Meg. You don't have anyone else."
Dammit. He was right, and if she was honest with herself, hedidmake her feel more secure. He didn't seem to let people bowl him over, and one dark stare from those black eyes of his would make a wolf cower.
"What's your stake?"
"Really?" He crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. He looked battle ready. "You're in a shit ton of trouble with a drug cartel, and you really give a shit about my stake?"
His phone rang, but he never looked away from her as he pulled it from his back pocket. "Yeah." His low sexy voice floated around her. She had no choice.
"Okay. I'm taking care of it." He put his phone back in his pocket. "Gotta run, Megan. Time isn't on our side."
Chapter9
He felt sorry for Megan. She had no one. She had nowhere to go, and by the looks of things, she didn't have a ton of money to get her through hiding out safely. But why in the fuck did he offer up his house? There is definitely something wrong with his brain right now. Must be from sitting in a truck all night.
Trying to reason his motives out now wasn't going to work. Not when he could smell her shower fresh skin next to him, and every time he glanced at her, she licked her lips. She didn't mean for it to be, but it was sensual in an innocent sort of way that was beginning to affect his nether region. That couldn't happen.
"I want to stop by the house first, please. I need to see if I can get my purse. And my grandmother's necklace."
