SHADOWLOVE--STALKERS (9 page)

It wasn’t a vampire of any kind. She would have known if it had been a vamp, as they gave off an unmistakable aroma—not exactly bad, or good, but distinct.

She counted the things she knew. It wasn’t human. It wasn’t a vamp, and like a demon it exuded evil. Was it a demon, and if so, what did it want with her?

The land rolled and curved and traveled with the open pasture.. Her deer path took her up over a steep hill and away from the woods. However, as she reached the peak of the hill, she saw someone coming out of the forest’s darkness. His light brown hair blew around his pleasant face, and as he saw her, he put up his walking stick and waved.

Shawna knew him at once even though he was at quite a distance. She had vamp sight, but how had he known her from so far? She was always wary but gave him the benefit of the doubt, telling herself that no doubt he simply assumed it had to be her, so close to the cottage grounds.

His smile grew as he approached and called out to her, “I thought it must be you! Hello.”

Again, she found that she liked the look of him. Tall, just a bit lanky, he exuded a healthy, outdoorsy glow. He wore the same navy wool jacket she had seen him in the other day, and a cream-colored turtleneck sweater peeked out at the neckline. He looked exceptionally pleased to see her. “You’ve walked quite a distance, Ms. MacBay.”

She put up her hand and gave him a hearty wave, pleased to have company and dispel the sensation of being watched. “Shawna—remember?” As soon as she said this she wanted to kick herself. She had to keep things standoffish. However, she supposed that first name basis didn’t mean it had to go any further, right?

He inclined his head. “Very well, I do.” He looked up at the sky and then back at her with a happy grin. “What a glorious day for a hike.”

“It is, and these rolling hills have given me just the workout I needed.”

The squire used his walking stick and brushed away some of the tall grass as she fell into step with him.

It occurred to her that when they met at the cottage he didn’t have a walking stick with him. Perhaps he used it only when he went hiking? A quick glance told her it was definitely an antique, and the carvings sketched throughout its length were, she thought, intriguing—no doubt a family heirloom.

He looked her over without reserve, which surprised her. She remembered what Mrs. Carver had told her about the ‘playboy’ squire. Here was a quiet-styled bad boy? It was hard to believe. Her instincts weren’t on the alert, and she usually had a good sense for that sort of guy—she would not have thought it about him.

His voice was soft, and his smile was charming. “You don’t look like you need a workout.”

She laughed and waved this off. “I will after I get back to the cottage and devour every speck of food in the fridge. This wonderful Highland air has me famished.”

He smiled and looked around. “Aye, the air will do that to you.”

Shawna realized she was being friendlier than was her norm since she’d gone on the run six months ago. She hadn’t been in a position to extend herself in friendship to anyone and had even had to blow off some of the friends she had made during her university life. She shifted into retreat, and he noticed at once.

“What? What have I said?”

“What do you mean?”

“All of a sudden, you vanished on me. There you were, bright and shiny, and then gone into somewhere dark and obscure.”

“Obscure, is it? I can’t remember anyone ever calling me that.” She laughed and shook her head.

A smile transformed his serious expression. “Ah Shawna, I have used the wrong adjective, haven’t I? Obscure indeed! You stand out like a single blue rose in a field of yellow…”

“Oh boy—both ends of the spectrum here.” She laughed. “A simple hello, you are looking well, Shawna MacBay, would have done just fine, sir.”

“Forgive me—and hello, you are looking so very well, Shawna MacBay.” He smiled widely. “Better?”

“Hmmm, getting there,” she returned. Still wanting to keep the conversation light, she immediately interjected, “Taking a hike yourself, Kenneth—your manor house must be quite a distance from here?”

“Oh, less than you would think. I have only to cross through the woods to my place.” He eyed her. “I should take you back with me and feed you. I am certain we can come up with something to satisfy your…er…hunger.”

She saw the flirt in his hazel eyes and allowed him a slight smirk. “I am sure
we
could, but home I must go.”

“Then I will take a promise from you to have tea with me soon.”

“Tea—I would like that.” After a pause she regarded him seriously for a moment and asked, “Do you walk these trails alone every day?”

“I do when in residence, yes, but today I got out earlier than usual.” He shrugged and then grinned conspiratorially. “Escaped you see.”

“Escaped?”

“I was having a hellish day with my attorney. He wanted me to attend to matters I haven’t any patience for today, so I excused myself and left him to fidget through the papers himself.” He regarded her meaningfully. “I am sure his mood is now worse, but I on the other hand am better—much better.”

Shawna laughed. “Naughty boy.”

“Hmmm. Don’t like paperwork.”

“Yup—I feel that,” Shawna remarked absently as she scanned the edge of the woods. Whatever had been following her was presently gone.

“Not just paperwork, but there were phone calls he wished me to make—appointments he wanted me to arrange.
Not today
.” He grinned like a boy. “Playing hooky, and damn glad that I am, for it led me to you.”

Shawna’s lips curved slightly as she inclined her head and then looked away. “Hmm, I usually find that walking does something wonderful for the soul.”

“Yes, but good company over a meal does so much more. Come on then, Shawna, walk with me to my home, and then I’ll drive you to the cottage after you have properly satisfied your appetite.”

Shawna saw a sexual gleam in his eyes and inwardly paused. She liked him, and she wondered if she could like him more? But—no point in that. She shook her head. “I would love to, but I have to get back and unpack a few more boxes.”

“Right, I won’t press you any longer on this now, but soon, Shawna MacBay, you will take tea…at the very least, tea with me.”

She inclined her head. “Okay, you have a deal.” Before she could stop herself she dove in and asked, “Kenneth, do you have wild boars in this region?”

He laughed. “Boars? No, no. Why do you ask?”

“When I was in the wood, I thought I saw something…foraging, and I thought I saw a dark shape that might have resembled a very large wild boar.” She gave him a half-truth. She was actually fishing. She wanted to know if he had seen anything unusual recently in the woods.

The squire looked puzzled. “It was probably just a trick of light and shadows. No doubt, it was one of the younger bucks.” He eyed her quizzically. “Do you feel uneasy?” He chuckled and reached for her arm. “Come then, I’ll walk you home.”

“No, that is silly. I can’t let you do that.”

“You don’t have a choice—besides, I have always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress. You will be doing me a great service as it will keep me away from my desk and the stack of work waiting for me.”

She laughed. “Damsel in distress—I don’t see her.”

He winked. “Nor do I.”

She allowed him to walk her back to the narrow path that led to her cottage, and there she turned to him. She couldn’t allow him to take her to her door. She didn’t want him to see all the wire and contraptions she had laid out all over the floor.

“I can’t take you any further out of your way,” she said as she extended her hand.

“Can’t you now?” He arched a look at her and then decided to let it go. “I suppose I do have to get back and give myself over to my attorney for an hour or so before he leaves.” He already had her hand to his lips.

She felt a wave of relief, as she half expected him to insist taking her to her door, and then she would have been obliged to ask him in. “Thank you, Kenneth, for the company.”

He smiled and she started off. She turned, gave him a wave, and watched as he cut a path through the tall grass, back towards the woods.

She liked the squire. He was personable, friendly, easy to talk to, and by the time she reached her laundry room door, she was sighing over him. It was just too bad that she would have to cut off their friendship at some point.

~ Six ~

SHAWNA LOOKED OUT the window and scowled over the grayness of the day. It held a sure promise of rain, heavy rain, and the air was cold and damp. She hugged her pretty cream-colored sweater around herself. She had unpacked the last of her ‘weapons’ and had them scattered throughout the house where she could easily and readily get a hold of each.

She had laid out all her wiring and various other materials the day before when she returned from her walk with the squire but hadn’t set them all.

She looked at what was left and sighed.
Traps
—she needed them at every window, although she did not believe any vamps were even in the area of Stockton.

She was setting an alarm at the kitchen window when the cell phone rang and made her jump. Frowning, she looked in its direction. It was still on the brown leather sofa where she had thrown it the other day. Off—she was sure it was shut down. It shouldn’t be ringing.

She hesitated, but curiosity got the better of her, and she moved to pick it up. She flipped it open—yup, it was off. The next ring jingled right through her, and her fingers trembled. How was this possible?

Out of habit, she pressed it on (sure that was probably unnecessary), and murmured a tentative, “He…llo?”

A familiar, oh so sexy brogue came back at her. That brogue, that voice that she would know anywhere, was soft, and enticing, and made her body melt. “Hello, Shawna—
miss me
?”

“Chadwick MacFare…how…my phone was off.”

“Aye, I know that, lass—no matter.”

She could almost see his smug expression. “What are you?” Shawna demanded.

“It isn’t important.”

“It is to me.”

“It shouldn’t be. All that should be important to you is surviving, and you won’t until you come to me.”

“Ha! Give it up, buddy.”

“You know that is what you have to do.”

“Fat chance, fella—I don’t trust you.”

“Then, I’ll just have to come to you.”

She heard the hinge creak and spun around to find Chadwick MacFare standing in her doorway. As he stepped through into her small cottage, she couldn’t help but admire the height and breadth of the man. He wore a heavy wool-lined leather blazer and jeans. His tawny hair fell in thick layers and framed his handsome face. His eyes—she couldn’t help but notice his green eyes were alight with mischief. He looked so damn proud of himself.

And he was so damn hot, it made her body quiver, and she found herself taking a step towards him, instead of away. “How—how did you find me? I know I wasn’t followed…I know…”

He came right at her, scooped her into his arms, and molded her to his body for his kiss. His mouth pressed at and parted her lips. He had no problem there—her lips gave way before her brain could stop them. His tongue teased at the tip of her tongue as though teaching her what he wanted from her next. Again, no problem; her tongue was in league with her lips.

She found that his kiss evaporated all conscious thought and swept through her body until she pressed herself against his rock-hard maleness, waiting hungrily for more. He did not disappoint.

But then, and without warning, he pulled away and set her aside. She looked at him and felt the fool when she exclaimed, “How dare you?”
How dare you—
she repeated
silently in her mind.
He
dared because you let him.

He gave her a smirk, and his voice was low, husky when he repeated her thoughts. “I dared because you allowed it.”

“HA—need you, I was just testing you!”

He was momentarily diverted from his purpose. “Testing me—for what? You let me kiss you, lass…nay, you more than let me.”

She smirked at him. “Only to see how you compared…” She let the words fade off.

He frowned darkly. “Compared?
Hell and fire
…” he started to growl, and then he suddenly eyed her and grinned. He wagged a finger. “Ah lass…nice bluff.”

“Don’t bluff…truth—I was curious.” She turned on her heel and took a step away.

He had her arm, allowed his hand to slide down the sleeve of her sweater and take her hand as he shook his head. “Shawna…you can’t stay here alone. Come with me now.”

“I’m doing just fine.”

“I found you, lass. So will they.”

“They haven’t.”

“No, not yet, but you don’t know who you can trust around here.”

“I know who is a vamp and who is not.”

“There are more than vamps you have to worry about.”

She snorted. “I know—because in the mix there is Mr. Chadwick MacFare.”