Guarding Raine Part 24

she said softly. " I've seen you pacing out here.

I couldn't sleep, either, and I watched you.

Was it the intelligence work you did, is that it?

" If the woman had one ounce of self-preservation she would beretreating.

Right now every sense she had should be screaming a warning to her. Mena h.e.l.l of a lot bigger had been known to quail before his temper. Shewas either unaware or unafraid of it. He didn't know which was more galling. " What the h.e.l.l do you know about it?

" he snarled. She met his gaze steadily. He was angry. No, more thanthat, he was furious. At her. Because she wouldn't back off and let him remain in that emotional cave he isolated himself in. It should have frightened her, the thought of this man angry. He was dangerous-looking at the best of times, Right now he was lethal. Yet his temper had a curiously calming effect on her. It was a rare signof emotion from him, and for some reason she wanted to stoke it. Wantedto force him to respond as a man, not as a machine. " I know how everyregret a person has can compound at night until it threatens to choke you.

I know that fear uses the daylight to hide and the darkness to prowlin.

" Her voice dropped. " And I know that people who can sleep do, andthose of us who can't usually have a reason.

" He rose from his chair so suddenly it clattered behind him. " You don't know what you're talking about," he growled. " You think yourivory-tower existence has prepared you to talk about regrets?

Lady, you don't know what regret is.

Up to now, the biggest fear in your life has been whether you'll sellwell enough for Kla.s.sen to keep you as a client.

h.e.l.l, you don't have the sense.

to be scared when there's a real threat out there.

You let Kla.s.sen talk you out of reporting those letters at firstbecause you wanted to believe him.

You couldn't even make a decision about it until Winters forced you to!

" She looked away then, but he didn't relent. He had her on the ropes,and the thought gave him a savage delight. She'd poked and prodded athim like a child tormenting a puppy, and then had the guts to comparethe two of them.

The little girl from California, the successful artist, had nothing incommon with Mac O'Neill. " I'm saying that a person doesn't have to bein military intelligence to"" It's called covert operations, baby, andmost of the time it has d.a.m.n little to do with intelligence.

" His face was savage. " Do you know what that job entails, hmm?

It doesn't involve nine-to-five office hours pus.h.i.+ng papers across adesk.

It's carried out in the searing heat of deserts halfway around theworld, and in jungles with air so thick you can barely breathe.

People don't matter there, obtaining goals does.

" " And did you attain your goals?

" she asked almost soundlessly " I did my job.

" The tone was flat, the words bleak. And she knew in that moment she had been right about him. She'd sensed that something rode this man,sensed it as only someone who'd been in that kind of pain herself couldhave done. And she felt for him, felt all the unspoken despair behindhis outburst. He clenched and unclenched his fists, angry that he'dallowed her to goad him into this admission, feeling as though she'dstripped away protective layers to reveal the ugly black center of hissoul. And because he felt exposed, because he was uncomfortable withhis own disclosure, he attacked. " What is it with you?

You can't find enough problems in your own sheltered little existenceto keep you occupied?

Do you need more to get inspiration for your work, is that it?

Concentrate on the creep who's hara.s.sing you, that should be troubleenough for anybody.

Anybody with the sense to feel caution, that is.

" " There's a difference between not noticing danger and not allowingit to ruin your life.

I'm sure you realized a long time ago that it's not the threats fromwithout that keep people running, that scare them the most.

It's the ones we carry inside us.

" He stared at her wordlessly, his eyes afro wing into her. Where did she come up with these ideas? From what he knew of her, from herfather, she'd had the sheltered upbringing of a society princess. He remembered something Grady had said once, that Simon Michaels protectedhis wife against anything in her life that might be unpleasant, and hefigured the man had done the same for Raine. Certainly his voice whenhe spoke of her had been full of feeling. He had been concerned enoughabout her safety to hire Mac. So what had happened to Ralne Michaelsalong the way that would give her these kinds of insights? " What is it about you?

" he murmured, gazing intently at her. " We're alike, you and I," sheanswered, and the truth of those ~ words struck her violently. For some reason she'd felt it at the be-ginning--there was something sherecognized in Macauley O'Neill. Something that had ~truck a chord inher. It wasn't a solely physical attraction, though she was onlybeginning to recognize that, too, existed. It was some element she hadn't been able to put her finger on until she'd seen him pacing alonein the moonlight. Now that common thread seemed to wrap around her,coaxing her to draw closer to the man, in spite of every self-protective tendency she'd ever had. How else could she explainwhat had happened this afternoon? Over the years, it had been acarefully unspoken rule in her home that no one walked up behind Rainewithout announcing himself first. No one reached out a hand toward her unless he was standing in her view. And n.o.body ever put hands on herwithout her permission. So what had happened earlier? Had she givenMacauley tacit permission to touch her? Where had that acquiredreaction gone to? And why had it disappeared under the touch of thisman? The thoughts echoed in her head, disturbing her. Each step she'dtaken to regain a normal life had been met before with quietself-satisfaction. She could go out now and not come home until afterdark. She didn't like to, the discomfort was still there, but shecould do it. She could stand in a line with someone behind her, and aslong as that person didn't touch her, no one would be embarra.s.sed. It might still make her sweat, the hairs on the back of her neck mightp.r.i.c.kle, but she could do that, too. She should be thrilled that she'd finally conquered yet another one of her fears this afternoon, butinstead it filled her with confusion, Why should this man be the one torelease her from that plague? She took a step away from him, and thenanother. For'the first time she felt afraid of him. Not physically,no, but emotional fear, that was something else. Why she should feelthis close to a relative stranger was a question too complex to answer." Whatever similarity you think you see between us is in yourimagination," he said harshly. " You're being threatened, I'm here toprotect .

you.

It's as simple, as basic as that.

Don't start romanticizing anything about this.

Romantic is the last word that should be used to describe someone like me.

" He turned on his heel and stalked into the house2 Raine picked upthe chair he'd knocked over and leaned against it. She would never have guessed that being threatened by a maniac would help her combatyet another inner fear. Somehow she knew that Macauley would object tobeing thanked for her self-improvement, but the credit was indeed his.And that meant that he had some strange connection with her. One she was still at a loss to explain.

The next evening Raine and Mac ate in silence. The only time he spokeat all was to answer some question she put to him, and finally she gaveup the effort. He seemed determined to maintain a distance from her,and she suspected that meant she'd been closer last night with herprobing than he felt comfortable with. Whatever the cause, sherespected his withdrawal for what it was. She hadn't meant to pry, b.u.t.that was exactly what she'd done. " Looks like I owe you anotherapology," she said tentatively. He hesitated in his chewing for afraction of a minute. " What for?

" " I pushed last night, and I didn't respect your privacy.

" She made an expression of self-deprecation. " All the things I hatehaving done to me.

My brothers accuse me of using my sense of honesty as a weapon andbeating people over the head with it.

I hope I didn't do any lasting damage.

" He swallowed. And then, unwfilingly, his mouth quirked in an almostsmile.

" I'm still in one piece.

" " Well, good," she said lightly. " I'd hate to think that you wereone more victim to my mad, impetuous quest for pus.h.i.+ng people over theedge.

I was beginning to think you weren't going to talk to me anymore.

" Actually, he'd given that idea some thought, and it had its merits.But he should have known that it would he a useless tactic with Raine. Last night she'd gotten him furious dnough'to strangle her, and tonightshe was channing him with her self-effacing humor. He wasn't a man easy to charm, but she did it so easily, so effortlessly. The wryhumor, usually directed at herself, and the huge eyes, full of whateveremotion she was feeling at the moment, were incredibly beguiling. Theywould have enchanted a less cautious man, drawn him irresistiblycloser. He wondered why it was that he hadn't been tripping over heradmirers. She was attractive enough, although she didn't seem to giveher looks any great thought. She didn't move with the conscious invitation of a woman aware of her power over men, but she wasgraceful.

Some men would be attracted to that slim, delicate body and offbeatsense of humor. Where were those men? Were they all blind, or stupid?He stared at her silently for a moment. Right now her eyes re-fleetedher sincerity.

They were perfect mirrors for whatever emotion she was feeling at themoment, as easy to read as a child's. He'd observed fear in them, determination and anger. He, s seen them teasing, warm and friendly.But whatever she was feeling ICy lie Brant 89 didn't control her; justthe opposite, in fact. He was coming to realize that she was a masterat tamping down her most bothersome emotions until she'd conqueredthem. She had a kind of courage that was difficult to resist, andrecognition of that made him edgy. Women like her weren't for men like him, and the fact that he even had to remind himself of that was proofthat the job here was getting to him. She was getting to him. She raised her eyebrows then and he realized belatedly that he'd beenstaring. He shook his head. " Don't worry about it.

" Changing the subject smoothly, he asked, " I've been meaning to askyou where you met Greg Winters.

How did he come to be your accountant?

" She smiled in re~hembrance. " He was taking an art cla.s.s at night atthe university.

I had been a guest speaker, and he'd asked my opinion of a painting hewas doing.

A bunch of us ended up going out for coffee, and he and I startedtalking.

He told me what he did and convinced me that I could use an accountant.

" She shrugged. " I agreed to let him take a look at my finances.

They were really a mess.

I mean, I don't really have the time or the inclination to look intomoney markets and that kind of thing.

It bores me.

" Mac frowned. " You didn't hire him just like that, did you?

" She felt a flash of irritation, which she pushed away. After all, hedidn't sound half as judgmental as her father had when he'd found out.He'd wanted her to fire Greg right away and turn her financial mattersover to Simon's private accountant. It had been one more thing they'ddisagreed about. Meeting his gaze squarely," she responded, " Greggave me references, and I checked with all of them.

He really knows his stuff.

" " So he's a better accountant than he is an artist?

" he inquired lazily. She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it. " Much better," she agreed impishly. " He has as much artistic skill as I have financial brilliance.

So actually, we suit pretty well.

" But not as well as Winters would like, Mac thought silently. He made a mental note to check with Trey on anything else he might havefound out about the man. There was nothing in Raine's voice when shespoke of him to suggest more than friends.h.i.+p on her part. Yet Winters's feelings for Raine were as transparent as gla.s.s. From the conversation he'd overheard in the kitchen several days earlier, it wasapparent that even Kla.s.sen had picked up on them.

The doorbell rang then, and they rose simultaneously. He reached out and captured her wrist. She sent him a silent, questioning look,ignoring the tingling in her skin beneath his fingers. Giving noexplanation, he moved in front of her, then proceeded into the house.She heaved a sigh of resignation. For a few minutes she'd almost forgotten the real reason for his presence here. " Mac, good to seeyou again.

Where's my daughter?

" Simon Michaels stepped through the door Mac had opened, clasping theyounger man's hand in a hearty shake. Spying Raine coming down thehall he said, " There you are, Raine.

I hadn't heard from you recently, so I thought I'd stop by and see howthings are going.

Your mother had planned to come, too, but she didn't have a good daytoday.

" Concern flared immediately at the mention of her mother. " Has she taken a turn for the worse?

" Simon waved a placating hand. " Now, don't worry, honey, she'sfine.

She just tried to do too much today, and got overtired.

You know how I'm always telling her to take it easy.

She'll be more rested tomorrow.

" Raine wasn't convinced. For as long as she could remember, herfather had been protecting his wife, watching over her health with a.n.a.lmost solicitous care. He was capable of overreacting to a normalday's tiredness, and he was just as capable of glossing over the realstate of his wife's health to avoid alarming Raine. She chewed her lipfor a moment, surveying him. " I think I'll call her," she said. " Unless you think she's asleep already.

" " Excellent idea," he said heartily. " Hearing from you will perkher right up.

" As she walked toward the phone on Mac's desk, her father cleared histhroat. " Why don't you go to the kitchen, Raine?

Then you can talk as long as you wish and we won't bother you.

Go ahead," he urged as she studied him suspiciously. She flicked her gaze at Macauley. He inclined his head slightly. Aware that she was being manipulated, she decided that her concern for her mother was mostimportant at the moment. She turned and left for the kitchen. As soon as she'd exited, Simon turned to Mac. He'd noted the look the man had shared with Raine but didn't comment on it. " Well, why don't you giveme a progress report, Mac?

Have there been any more threatening letters?

" Mac shook his head. " Not so far.

" He gave the man a rundown on the security precautions that had been

completed to date.

"That sounds well and good, but what about this maniac who's been threatening her?

I called that d.a.m.ned detective again, and he's no closer than before to

solving this thing.

I get the feeling it isn't exactly high on his list of priorities, either,"

Simon added disgustedly. " I've talked to him, too," Mac said. "

Well?

What do you think?

" Simon demanded. " G.o.d knows, the beefed-up security can't hurt, but