Drake lowered his voice and looked at Aiden. “Off limits.”
“So maybe the kindergarten teacher will be more to my liking,” Aiden said with a grin.
“No,” Drake said instinctively. “She’s off limits too.”
Where the hell had that come from?
“So basically, all of Jasper Creek is off limits, is that the deal?”
“Yeah. Why don’t we just stick with that.” Drake nodded.
Aiden shook his head. “You can stick your head in the sand all you want to Avery, but those women will do whatever the hell they want to.”
That’s what Drake was afraid of.
***
It was still dark when almost everyone was at the breakfast table the next morning. Piper had volunteered to feed Bella in the kitchen.
“I recognize that face. You plan to do something stupid,” Evie said pointing her fork at Drake.
Aiden laughed. “She’s kind of right, you do have a stupid look on your face.”
Drake scowled at them.
“I keep wondering why they haven’t shown up at your work,” Drake said. “Why were they camped outside Trenda’s house, but not your house? Your work?” he asked Evie.
“I thought you knew. I live at the hotel where I work. It’s allowed me to-” She stopped short.
“It’s allowed you to what?” Drake demanded.
“Keep up on my hobbies. Just never you mind.” Evie glared at her brother.
“I want to know,” Drake glared back.
“Drake you need to stay on point,” Aiden’s voice was gentle, but there was no mistaking the steel underneath. He turned to Evie. “Why do you think none of your dad’s prison buddies have come to visit you at the hotel?”
Evie and Trenda laughed.
Aiden raised his eyebrow. “Care to share with the class?”
“Jim and Blake. I know you think SEALs are all that,” Evie said. “But Jim’s a former Army Ranger. He and Blake have been together for over ten years. They own the place. Blake is no slouch either, he’s a former marine. I’m just here at night to be with my sisters, not because I think the hotel isn’t safe. Trust me, my room is two doors down from the guys. I’m safe.” Evie grinned.
“But Dad wouldn’t know about them?”
“The sheriff sure as hell would,” Evie said. “The few times there have been problems at the Inn, Jim has taken care of it first, then called the law.”
Well, that explained why Evie hadn’t been targeted. Trenda got up from the table and picked up her plate and Evie’s. When she went to pick up Aiden’s he stopped her. “I’ve got it. Let me help you with the clean-up.”
Trenda smiled. “Thanks.”
Drake’s cell phone rang. Well, it had lasted longer than he’d thought. He grabbed it out of his pocket expecting to see one of his teammate’s numbers, surprised and happy to see it was Karen Eastman.
“Hello?”
“My alarm system just went off. When I called the sheriff’s office, they said it’d be forty-five minutes before they could be here.”
“Karen, Give me your address.” He said her name so the people at the table would know who he was talking to. Then Drake was out of his chair and grabbing his coat, thankful he was already wearing his gun and holster.
“Seventeen Brookhollow. I’m between you and town. It could be nothing.”
“Do you own a gun?” he asked as he ran towards the front door.
“No.”
“Is there a lock on your bathroom?” He was already in his SUV.
“Yes.”
“Go into your bathroom, lock the door. Grab some hairspray. You can spray the assailant in the eyes if he gets in. I’ll be there shortly, stay on the line with me.” The gates opened, he didn’t know who he had to thank, Evie or Aiden. He had to stop for a moment before his vehicle would be safe to clear, which allowed him to program the address into the GPS. As soon as he could, he started driving.
“Karen, are you in the bathroom?”
“I’m getting my clothes.”
“There’s no time!”
“I sleep naked! There’s no way I’m facing an intruder, or you for that matter, without a bra.” He heard a door slam. “I’m in the bathroom, the door’s locked.” He heard her shudder.
“It’s probably nothing.”
Damn the roads were icy. He lost traction, and the phone slammed onto the floorboard of the passenger seat.
“Karen! Are you still there?”
“Yes,” she sounded a million miles away.
Thank God the GPS had come standard with the SUV. Who knew that the screw-up at the rental place would end up being a good thing? At the bottom of the hill he took a fast right, the vehicle skidded, but he kept it on the road.