Deadly Fall

“Do you trust them?” Andrew asked.

Emma nodded. “With my life.”

“How about with the life of your child?” He captured Emma’s gaze and held it.

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Then yes. If I could get someone on a temporary basis that is trustworthy, it will give me time to look for a full-time bodyguard.”

Deputy McGregor closed his notepad and slid it into his pocket. “Tell you what... We’re having dinner at McGregor Manor tomorrow night. Why don’t you and Leigha come? You can discuss it with some of the members of the SOS team then.”

Andrew frowned. “SOS?”

“Stealth Operations Specialists,” Emma clarified. “They’re like the FBI and CIA, only better. Somehow they’ve opened a branch here in Cape Churn. You should come. You can meet all of them, and maybe by tomorrow night they’ll have an answer for you. Or they might have a suggestion of who to hire for the job of bodyguard to you and Leigha.” Emma wrapped a bandage around his hand. “Keep that out of water for a couple of days. In a week you can come in and I’ll remove the stitches. Otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Emma gave him the routine discharge instructions and a prescription for antibiotics and sent him out to the lobby, where Leigha and Mrs. Purdy waited.

Leigha ran to him and hugged him around the legs. “I was so scared.”

“I’m fine.” He patted the child’s head and lifted her up on his uninjured arm. “Since we’re in town, why don’t we get some ice cream at the Seaside Café?”

Leigha clapped her hands together. “Yes, please.”

The smile on Leigha’s face made warmth spread across Andrew’s chest. He never ceased to be amazed at how much one little human being could make him feel more important than an entire office building of employees.

He vowed to keep this little girl safe, no matter the cost. If it meant hiring a bodyguard, he’d do it. But it had to be someone special. Someone he could trust completely. There weren’t many people he knew who fit that bill. How was he going to trust a stranger to fill that role?

Chapter 2

Dixie Reeves pulled into the parking lot of McGregor Manor. The lovely old home perched on the edge of a cliff outside the small community of Cape Churn, Oregon. In just under twenty-four hours she’d gone from being unemployed to having a job, to getting her first assignment.

What she was supposed to do as a bodyguard to a rich man was beyond her. As a squad leader in the Army, she’d been responsible for her soldiers, the first all-female squad of Airborne Rangers.

She’d done her best as a leader among her peers until one of their special operations had gone bad. They’d been caught in the middle of a firefight. Dix, manning a .60-caliber submachine gun, had remained behind, laying down cover fire for her squad, allowing them to escape. When she’d run out of bullets, she hadn’t had time to put her handgun to her head before she was captured.

Dix shook off the memory of the week she’d spent in hell in an enemy camp where she’d been humiliated, tortured and beaten repeatedly until the Navy SEALs were sent in to extract her.

That was over three years ago. Her life had changed dramatically. Processed out of the Army, she’d spent two of those years as a member of the Mixed Martial Arts fighting community. But the nightmares still lingered.

Dix stared at the lush landscape damp from the previous night’s mist, so foreign to the deserts of Afghanistan and Las Vegas she might as well have been on another planet.

From what she’d been told, the building in front of her had once been a rich man’s home, but had been turned into a bed-and-breakfast by the remaining members of the family. As a home, it was larger than anything Dix had ever lived in. As a bed-and-breakfast, it was quaint and had a heck of a view of Cape Churn.

Her new boss, Royce Fontaine, had tracked her down to her small apartment in Las Vegas, where she’d been sorting through what was left of her belongings after donating most of them to a local women’s shelter. He’d said he’d been following her career. At first, she’d assumed he’d meant her career as an MMA fighter. She’d done pretty well, winning one championship after another, focusing all of her anger and frustration into her fists.

Her opponents didn’t have a chance. The women she’d fought had never been through the intense training she’d survived as one of the first women to pass the Army Ranger training program. Nor had they been tortured in an enemy camp. The anger had fueled her fists until one day she’d gone too far and left an opponent comatose with a very slim chance of recovery.

Royce thought she’d be a good fit for his team. Dix wasn’t so sure. But with no other skills to add to her résumé, what else was she fit for? She might have gotten a job as a security guard at one of the casinos, but the noise bothered her, making her head ache and the tensions to multiply.

So, now she was going to be a member of the SOS team. What exactly did an agent with the Stealth Operations Specialists do? Royce had told her, Anything that needed to be done.

Then he’d gotten word from one of his other agents that a wealthy man needed bodyguard services on a temporary basis while he interviewed and hired one he could trust.

“But what does a bodyguard do?” she’d asked Fontaine.

And he’d answered, “Whatever needs to be done.”

“Not helping,” she muttered as she walked toward the bed-and-breakfast. Hopefully the other members of the SOS team could shed light on her responsibilities. She couldn’t afford to lose this job. It might be the only offer she got, and the pay was good. As far as she could tell, all she had to do was keep a rich dude alive.

How hard could that be in the States? They didn’t have Taliban or Islamic State fighters...at least, not that she knew of.

“Hello. May I help you?” a female voice called out from the front door of the manor.

Dix shaded her eyes and squinted. “Is this the McGregor Bed-and-Breakfast?”

“It is.” An auburn-haired woman stepped out onto the porch and smiled. “I’m Molly McGregor, one of the owners. Do you need a place to stay tonight?”

“I don’t think so,” Dix said. “I’m supposed to meet someone here.”

The woman frowned. “Meet someone? Anyone in particular?” she asked, her smile warm and welcoming.

“Royce Fontaine sent me. Does that name ring a bell?”

Ms. McGregor’s eyes widened. “You’re D. Reeves?”

Dix nodded. “Dixie Reeves.”

The bed-and-breakfast owner clapped a hand over her mouth, smothering what sounded suspiciously like a giggle. She dropped her hand, a sparkle dancing in her eyes. “We’ve been expecting you.”

“We?” Dix didn’t like the sound of that. A single contact was all she’d been led to believe would be waiting for her in Cape Churn.

“Yes,” Molly continued, cheerful and happy, something Dix couldn’t begin to relate to. “The gang’s all here. We thought you’d be here an hour ago.”

“My plane was delayed by weather over Vegas or I would have been here sooner.”

“No worries. I kept your dinner warm.” She waved a hand. “Come inside. Everyone is waiting for you.”

“Everyone?” Dix halted with one foot on the bottom step. “I was told to meet my contact here.” After quitting the MMA circuit, Dix had no desire to step in front of a crowd of people ever again. Whether it was a throng of three thousand or a party of five, she wouldn’t perform like a trained monkey to the delight of others. In her mind, being a bodyguard was being invisible until she needed to step forward to protect her client. She’d actually looked forward to being invisible. No celebrity status. No paparazzi. After dropping out of the MMA, she never wanted to be in the public eye again.

“The entire West Coast office of SOS agents is in attendance tonight. You’ll get a chance to meet all of them.” Molly grinned. “Don’t worry—they won’t bite. Unless you try to take their clam chowder. I managed to save a bowl for you.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to meet my contact out here, get my marching orders and go on to my client.”

Molly’s smile slipped. “Oh, okay. But your client is inside, as well. He’s having clam chowder, too.” The woman’s smile returned. “You might as well have dinner with us. I think your client gave his housekeeper the night off from cooking.”

Dix squared her shoulders and continued up the steps. She wasn’t getting out of the dog and pony show. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m here to work, not socialize.”

“Is that our newest SOS agent?” A dark-skinned man, with brown-black eyes, a full, sensual mouth and a slight Hispanic accent, stepped through the front door behind Molly and slipped his arm around the redhead’s waist. He frowned, his head tilting to one side. “Dix Reeves? The Dix Reeves?” His face split into a wide smile. “Are you a guest of the bed-and-breakfast?”

So much for being invisible. Dix sighed. “No, I’m not here to stay. I’m here on work-related business.”

“Dix, this is Casanova Valdez. Or Nova for short.” Molly turned to the man. “Nova, this is the agent Royce sent.”

Nova’s frown deepened. “I don’t understand.” He flicked a hand toward Dix. “That’s Dix Reeves, one of the most talented MMA fighters ever.”

“MMA?” Molly asked, her brows rising. “I’m sorry—is that another one of your military acronyms?”

Nova laughed out loud. “No. It stands for Mixed Martial Arts. Dix, here, is at the top of her game.” He reached out a hand. “It’s an honor to meet you.”

Dix held out her hand and, with a firm grip, shook Nova’s.

“Wait—what did you say?” Nova didn’t release her hand. “You’re the agent Fontaine sent?”

With a nod, Dix extracted her hand. “That’s me.”

“But you’re with the MMA.”

“Not anymore. I quit a week ago.”

“That’s a shame. I watched your last fight against Peggy Pounder. You threw some wicked punches and kicks. I don’t think I’ve seen anything quite that intense.”

Her lips thinned. Intense was one way to describe the fight. Insane was closer to the truth. She’d had a particularly bad night’s sleep, plagued by nightmares from her time as a guest of the Taliban. She’d gone into the ring, not to claim a championship, but to beat the demons out of her head.

She’d nearly killed her opponent.

Molly touched Nova’s arm. “Was that the fight you were watching last weekend?”

Nova nodded. “Incredible.”

Molly’s brows knit, her smile fading. “Didn’t that woman end up in the hospital?”

Dix’s belly clenched. “Yes. She’s still in a coma. It’s not one of my prouder moments.” Dix stared at Nova. “Are you one of Fontaine’s agents?”

With a grave nod, Nova answered, “I am. But I’m not your contact. That would be Tazer. She’s inside.”

“Good. I’d like to get on to my assignment.”

“Well, that’s the place to start.” Nova held open the door. “Just follow Molly. And don’t forget to try her amazing clam chowder. It’s muy bueno.”

Molly entered the manor first. “Everyone is in the dining room.”

Dix followed, bracing herself for more questions than she was ready to answer. If Nova recognized her, she hadn’t done a good job of blending in. She’d have to buy some hair dye and go from blonde to brunette to hide her identity. In the meantime, she squared her shoulders and turned toward the sea of faces in front of her.

The men pushed back from the table and stood.

Molly turned to her. “Everyone, this is D. Reeves. Otherwise known as Dixie Reeves or—”

“I’ll be damned.” A woman sitting at the other end of the table stood. “Dix Reeves. Mixed Martial Arts World Champion.” The woman had long blond hair, combed straight and hanging in a soft curtain down her back. In tan slacks and a cool, white-cotton blouse, she could have been a model for one of the fashion magazines. She stepped away from her seat and rounded the table, a smile quirking the corners of her lips. “Fontaine sure knows how to pick them.” She stopped in front of Dix and held out her hand. “Nicole Steele. But my friends call me Tazer.”

Dix shook the woman’s hand, surprised at the firmness of her grip. “Sounds like an MMA call sign.”

Tazer shrugged. “Suits me. I guess you could say I earned it.” She raked her gaze over Dix. “So, you’re going to be Andrew Stratford’s bodyguard.” She let the smile spread a little wider. “Makes sense.”

Dix pulled her hand free of Tazer’s grip. “I’d like to get on to my assigned duties, if that’s possible.”

Tazer grinned. “More than possible.”

Dix glanced around at the faces all staring at her. Which one was the rich man she was supposed to protect?

Tazer chuckled. “It’s none of the men at the table. Mr. Stratford stepped out to take a call. He’ll be back in a minute. As far as I know, you start your assignment immediately.”

“In the meantime—” Molly pulled out a chair “—have a seat and a bowl of chowder. I won’t take no for an answer.”

The pretty redhead might be smiling and sunny, but Dix suspected she was as tough as the muscular men seated around the table. “Yes, ma’am.” Before she could sink into the chair, a deep, resonant voice spoke from behind her.

“I’m sorry. I need to leave. Leigha isn’t feeling well. If you could send the bodyguard over when he gets here, I’d appreciate it.”

“As a matter of fact, your bodyguard is here.” Tazer hooked Dix’s elbow and turned her around.

Dix stared at the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on. He stood half turned toward the exit, only one side of his face visible. While all the other men in the room were dressed in jeans or khaki slacks, this man wore a dark suit that appeared to be tailor-made to fit his body to perfection. His dark hair was shortly cropped, showing a bit of a wave. And those ice-blue eyes...

Then he squared off, spinning to fully face the room of people. A jagged scar ran from the edge of his jaw all the way up to the corner of his eye.

Dix drew in a sharp breath. She hadn’t expected such a magnificent man to have such a wicked scar.

His dark brows drew together into a V over his nose. “Where is he?”

“Not he,” Tazer said in a slow, deliberate voice. “She is here and ready to go to work.” She shoved Dix forward a step.

The gentleman shook his head, his eyes tapering into little more than a slit. “I don’t understand. I asked for someone who could protect me and my family.” His gaze raked over her. “I don’t need another female in my household. I need someone strong and capable of protecting Leigha.”

Her shock at the rugged scar on his face morphed into anger roiling deep in her belly. Dix let it bubble up to the surface. Yeah, she was probably overreacting, but she’d put up with more gender discrimination than most women, and had to fight and claw her way through every leg of the journey that had brought her this far. “Just because I’m female doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself, or take care of you and your family.” She planted her fists on her hips and lifted her chin. “Go ahead. Try to take me down.”

“Uh, Dix, I’m not so sure that’s a good idea,” Nova said. “He’s the client.”

Andrew Stratford raised a hand. “It’s okay. I don’t think she’s the right person for the job. If she can prove she is, I might reconsider.” He gave her a narrow-eyed, assessing glance. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

She snorted. “Oh, sweetheart, you’re not going to hurt me.” I might hurt you, she thought, but kept the comment from coming out. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll wrinkle your suit?”

Tazer’s lips tilted upward. “Mr. Stratford, you might be biting off a little more than you can chew. My boss wouldn’t send someone who couldn’t do the job, and Dix is more than qualified. I’ve seen her dossier.”

“I can’t trust her with my family until I know she can handle the job.”

Tazer shook back her beautifully groomed hair. “Okay, but take it out in the yard. You don’t want to damage Molly’s dining room.”

Molly bit her lip. “I don’t want you to damage yourselves.”

Another man stood and clapped his hands together. “I’ve gotta see this.”

“Creed, don’t encourage them.” A sandy-blond-haired woman stood.

He shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. “You’re a nurse. If someone gets hurt, you can stop the bleeding until the ambulance gets here.”

“That’s right,” Nova said. “We have Emma. She can stabilize the loser until the ambulance gets here.”

Mr. Stratford waved a hand toward the door. “Ladies first.”

Dix fumed at his condescension, but swallowed her anger and focused on teaching this man not to judge a book by its cover, or a woman by the color of her hair or the size of her body. With her head held high, she marched through the living area and out the front door, letting it close in the man’s face.

She didn’t stop until she was standing on the ground in front of the manor.

Footsteps behind her indicated Stratford had followed her.

Before she could turn to face him, strong arms circled her, clamping her own arms to the side.

Used to facing her opponents in the MMA, the sudden attack brought back memories of being held in captivity, bound tightly, unable to fight her way out. Panic almost set in. Two years of therapy came to her rescue. She breathed in and out, forced the bad thoughts to the back of her mind and shut the door on them. Then her thoughts flashed to the best way to extricate herself from the man’s strong hold.

“If you can’t defend yourself,” he whispered against her ear, “you can’t defend me or my family.”

Dix drew in another calming breath and let her body go limp, a complete deadweight in his arms.

Stratford staggered backward.

She slipped downward, bunched her legs beneath her and planted her feet in the dirt. Then she twisted her body, taking his with hers, flinging them both to the ground.

As they fell, his grip loosened to break his fall.

Dix rolled over, grabbed his arm and jerked it up and behind his back, forcing Stratford onto his belly. She straddled his hips, sat on his back and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Sorry I wrinkled your suit, Mr. Stratford. I’m also sorry I wasted your time. And, for the record, I’m not interested in protecting someone who doesn’t trust my ability to do the job. Thank you for the opportunity but no thanks. I’ll find another job.”

Dix released his arm and stood, stepping over his prone body. She turned back to the people gathered on the porch, clapping and cheering for her. She shook her head and repeated, “Thanks, but I don’t want the job.”

The cheering died down. Tazer descended the stairs, her brow furrowing. “What do you mean you don’t want the job?”

“I don’t. Mr. Stratford obviously doesn’t think a woman will suffice. I’ve fought my share of gender discrimination. I’m done.” She started toward the rental car, wondering how long her savings would last after she paid Fontaine back for the flight and the car rental.

Before she’d gone four steps, a leg shot out and swept her off her feet. She landed hard on her back, the air knocked from her lungs.

Stratford straddled her hips, grabbed her wrists and yanked them above her head, pinning them to the dirt. “Sorry I messed up your hair and smudged your makeup, but you can’t quit until I fire you.”

Dix gasped, her lungs remembering how to inhale. “I’m not wearing makeup. And it’s too late. I already quit.”

He shook his head. “I don’t accept your resignation.”

“You don’t have to.” She shoved at him and lifted her leg sharply, attempting to knee him in the back. “It’s not negotiable.” She grunted.

“I need someone to protect my family.” He scooted back on her thighs, trapping her legs on the ground. “Despite your bad temper, I want you to do it.”

She opened her mouth to protest.

He released one of her wrists and pressed a finger to her lips. “I don’t have anyone else. I need someone temporarily until I can hire a full-time replacement. At least give me that.”

“I’m not your man,” she bit out.

“Call me crazy.” For the first time since she’d met the man, his lips twitched in something akin to a smile. “I don’t want a man. I want you.”

Chapter 3

Andrew wasn’t sure what made him tackle the female. Not only had he pinned her to the ground, he’d insisted she take the job. He told himself it was her stubborn determination to prove herself that had pushed him past his concerns. The heat of her thighs straddling his hips and the way she’d pressed her breasts against his back had nothing whatsoever to do with his decision. Though his skin still tingled and the warmth of her breath on the side of his neck lingered in the cool night air.

The plain facts were that he needed someone to keep track of Leigha and keep her safe from whoever was trying to hurt him. What worried him more was the secret friend Leigha went on and on about. Should the person actually exist, he had no business hanging around a six-year-old without her father’s permission. Until Andrew had a permanent fix for the situation, Dix Reeves would have to do.

And even if she were as attractive as she was tough, he wouldn’t hold that against her. He rose to his feet and extended his hand to the woman on the ground.

She shoved it aside, easily rolled to her feet and brushed the dust from her jeans. She moved like an athlete, with a spring in her step. Fast and strong, the woman could be an asset. At the very least, she’d be a good temporary solution to his needs. Tomorrow he’d log on to the internet and search for reputable bodyguard services. “If you’re ready to leave, I need to get home. As I mentioned, Leigha isn’t feeling well and I don’t like leaving her for very long with only Mrs. Purdy to protect her.”

Dix crossed her arms over her chest. “What part of ‘no thanks’ did you not understand?”

Ignoring her refusal, he walked to his SUV and climbed in. “Follow me. The road can be hard to find in the dark. And by the looks of it, the Devil’s Shroud is moving in.”

Dix shot a glance from Andrew to Tazer. “What’s he talking about?”

Tazer nodded. “He’s right. By the time you get back to his place, the Devil’s Shroud will make it very difficult to find your way.” Her lips twisted. “The folks around here have a flair for the dramatic. The Devil’s Shroud is what they call a thicker-than-pea-soup fog that blinds anyone trying to find their way through it. If you live here long enough, you will undoubtedly experience it firsthand. Probably tonight.”

Molly stepped forward. “They say that when the Devil’s Shroud rolls in, you can count on evil coming along with it.”

Dix snorted. “Well, I should be able to find my way to town and a hotel before it gets that thick.”

With a shrug, Molly glanced toward Andrew. “You might try saying ‘please.’”

Andrew pressed his lips together. As one of the most powerful traders on Wall Street, he’d been used to giving orders and having people follow them without question. Since the accident, he’d left that world behind. But that world hadn’t completely left him. He swallowed the desire to tell everyone to go to hell and forced out, “Please.”

Dix’s brows puckered and a smile curled the corners of her mouth. “Wow. That’s the best you can do?”

He growled before he could stop himself. “Take it or leave it.”

She hesitated, her gaze sweeping him from head to toe. As he expected, her perusal slowed on the scars he’d acquired in the accident.

Andrew fought the urge to turn his face away as well as to hide his hand from her all-seeing eyes. But he stood fast, refusing to back down. She’d see the scars on a daily basis; she might as well get used to them now.

When her gaze reached his toes, she looked up and nodded curtly. “I’ll take it. But only on a temporary basis.” She pointed a finger at him. “And not for you, but for your daughter. Hopefully she doesn’t have her father’s bad temper.”

Andrew slipped into the SUV without saying another word. He didn’t wait to see if she would follow, but pulled out of the gravel driveway and onto the paved highway.