Dancing with Deception (28 page)
She’d shown up for Sage and Coral’s wedding—rocked his world and then vanished as quickly as she’d appeared. He’d followed her online as she’d done shows all over the country during a tour so successful they’d been adding dates in every city. Stepping silently behind her, Colt simply waited patiently for her to find the bottle of orange juice she was frantically looking for.
“Hey, refrigerator fairy,
where did you hide the damned orange juice? I know I left one of those little bottles in here. Don’t tell me you shared with your sprite buddies because that’s just gonna suck. Damn it, nobody asked me if they could drink the last bottle. Coral warned me this place was under construction but she didn’t say anything about it being overrun with juice steeling wee folk.” Josie leaned her forehead against the fridge and groaned.
That’s it. I’ve officially lost my mind. I should have known I’d tip over the edge if I didn’t learn to say no. Damn it, where is that freaking juice?
“Come on, come on. I know it’s in here. I can’t go to the damned store…somebody will recognize me and splash my damned picture all over the internet, then he’ll find me again. Coral will be home in a few days and then she can help me figure out what to do. Fucking hell, I need that juice. If I don’t have it, I won’t be able to sleep. And, I really need to sleep.” And wasn’t that the understatement of the decade. Damn, she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in weeks. The notes left in her dressing rooms around the country had been frightening enough to keep her awake at night, but returning to her home in LA to find it gutted had been terrifying.
Who steals everything and then tears out entire walls, for heaven’s sake?
Sagging in defeat, Josie was losing the battle to hold back the hot tears of frustration burning at the back of her eyes. Everything had spiraled out of control during the last few weeks. Her final shows seemed more like a slow slide into some b-rated horror movie than the end of a hugely successful music tour. She’d lost so much weight her wardrobe assistant had been forced to rework every one of her stage outfits, but she’d been too unsettled to eat.
Damn, I really wanted that juice.
She was exhausted, hungry, and scared. Josie surrendered to the tears as she stood and leaned her forehead against the closed door of the refrigerator trying again to regain her composure. “Fucking hell. All I wanted was some sleep and a bottle of fucking orange juice.” Her voice caught on a sob of frustration, that quickly morphed into a scream when she heard the distinctive scape of a shoe across the floor behind her.
Spinning around, hands raised in defense, Josie screamed. The part of her brain that recognized the man moving toward her was shoved aside by the larger part drowning in blind terror. She felt strong hands wrap around her upper arms stilling her attempts to escape. “Stop. Josie, sweetheart, it’s Colt.” Something in the commanding tone of his voice finally cut through the fear and she sagged against him.
Safe.
The word was playing a continuous loop in her head as the need for the warmth of human connection had her climbing up his toned body like a spider monkey.
His arms banded around her, pressing her against his chest. The fear she’d been fighting for weeks, compounded with the surge of adrenaline she’d gotten a few seconds ago, drained the last of her strength. In the safety of his embrace, Josie finally let go.
Colt had never
felt so blinded by rage as he had when he’d seen the look in Josie’s eyes. The expression had been something between haunted and terrorized. He’d never seen that expression in anyone’s eyes—fuck, the look would haunt him for the rest of his life. Whoever was responsible was living on borrowed time.
He moved into the small living room and settled on the overstuffed sofa. Huge gulping sobs wracked her too slender body as he stroked his hand up and down the length of her spine.
Jesus, Joseph, and sweet mother, Mary. How much weight has she lost?
He remembered thinking she was too thin the night they’d spent together, but she was positively
frail
now. Listening to her cry was going to tear his heart into small pieces. But he was going to let her get it all out before loading her up and taking her home. He’d heard the fear in her voice when she mentioned being found and she damned well wasn’t safe here.
Christ, what’s happened to her? I really need to watch the fucking news more.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. Let it all go. I’ll never let anyone hurt you.”
I’m not letting you run again either.
The End
The Wolf Pack Series
Mated – Book One
Fated Magic – Book Two
Tempted by Darkness – Book Three
Masters of the Prairie Winds Club
Out of the Storm
Saving Grace
Jen’s Journey
Bound Treasure
Punishing for Pleasure
Accidental Trifecta
Missionary Position
The ShadowDance Club
Katarina’s Return – Book One
Jenna’s Submission – Book Two
Rissa’s Recovery – Book Three
Trace & Tori – Book Four
Reborn as Bree – Book Five
Red Clouds Dancing – Book Six
Perfect Picture – Book Seven
Club Isola
Capturing Callie – Book One
Healing Holly – Book Two
Claiming Abby – Book Three
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