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Her eyes widened in alarm. In real alarm, there was no mockery in her gaze as she stared back at him now. “You’re going to get into a fight with him because he shook me a little bit? Good God, Zeke, this is ridiculous. ”
“Not nearly as ridiculous as the knots you have me tied into. ” Zeke knew she was breaking through barriers
he hadn’t even realized were weakened by her. Hell, he’d just kissed her in front of a Wednesday night crowd at the bar and hauled her into his truck before reports had even been gathered. How many state and federal mandates had he broken with that one?
“Oh yeah, Zeke, you’re really tied in knots over me,” she snorted sarcastically. “So tied up that I’m continually trying to figure out exactly where I stand with you. It’s like trying to catch the wind. ”
He heard the hurt in her voice and he didn’t blame her for it. He was trying too hard to make certain she didn’t end up in danger that her emotions were being sacrificed. That wasn’t what he wanted. He wanted her safe, and until he identified the man the League sent in to do their dirty work, then she wouldn’t be safe until she was out of Pulaski County.
“I’m not that damned hard to figure out,” he finally protested with an edge of disgust.
“Hell, Rogue, wanting you out of the county until this investigation is over doesn’t mean I’m trying to deny anything that’s between us. It simply means I’m trying to protect you. ”
He made the turn onto the graveled road that led to his farm and prayed that Shane hadn’t come home for the night.
“Oh yeah, that’s why you just left last night rather than coming upstairs with me,” she pointed out.
“I didn’t come upstairs with you because we were too angry with each other for what we both know would have happened. I won’t fuck you while I’m angry with you, Rogue. We have things to settle between us. I wanted those things settled first. ”
“Things like me leaving town?” she argued. “You can forget that one, Zeke. It’s not going to happen. ”
Yeah, he’d already pretty much figured that one out. Blowing out a deep breath he tried to consider an alternative way to make certain she didn’t end up hurt, or worse, dead.
Hell, he’d already lost his wife to an investigation; he didn’t want to lose Rogue to another one.
“We’ll discuss other options,” he said as he pulled into the driveway and shut off the ignition before turning to face her. “I won’t let you risk yourself though, I want that made clear here and now. Until this is over, you can’t work the bar, you can’t travel alone. Not until I figure out what’s going on. ”
Rogue’s expression was stark as the outside lights reflected off her pale flesh.
“You’ve learned something more,” she whispered.
Zeke breathed out heavily. “Joe and Jaime were murdered, Rogue, and I suspect their grandmother was as well. If she was, that means you are in danger. Whoever started this isn’t finished, and I have a bad feeling about it. Whoever it is will end up coming after you. ”
Her lips parted, vulnerable, silken soft as her tongue licked over them, leaving a glistening sheen of dampness that could have tempted a saint.
A hint of fear flashed in her eyes, and he hadn’t wanted to see that. He wanted her wild, angry, laughing, or mocking, but never hurt or frightened. And seeing it made Zeke want to kill.
SEVENTEEN
Rogue sat on the couch, an ice bag on the side ofher face. The bruising really wasn’t that bad, but she could see why Zeke would have been a tad upset. It sure as hell didn’t look pretty.
She had changed out of the leather pants and silky camisole top she had worn at the bar and into one of Zeke’s white shirts. The material enveloped her in his scent, in a sense of warmth.
With her legs curled beneath her she watched as he made a small fire in the fireplace across from her. He had changed his uniform for jeans, though he wasn’t wearing a shirt or shoes.
He hadn’t said much after they entered the house, and Rogue didn’t know what to say at this point. She had called the bar while Zeke showered to learn that Jonesy had been released and was still running the bar. At least she didn’t have to worry about him.
She was going to have to make a decision about the bar though. She knew Natches was looking to sell his share in the Mackay restaurant if she decided she wanted to buy him out. It was something to think about. Hell, it was something she had been thinking about for months.
“How does your face feel?” Zeke straightened from the fireplace, turned, and moved toward her.
He didn’t walk, he stalked. Dark, heavy muscle flexed in his arms, chest, and powerful abdomen. His jeans lay low on his hips and beneath them, she could tell he was still heavily aroused.
“My face is fine. ” She let the ice pack drop to the coffee table in front of her before leaning back against the couch cushions as he sat down beside her.
His fingers curled along her jaw to turn her face to where he could get a better look.
“You should have gone to the hospital,” he said, his voice dark, rough.
