Taking Heart (10 page)

He ducked his chin to look at her. She'd cried herself to sleep, but her tears still burned against his skin, burned his heart. With what had already happened, why hadn't she called the police as soon as Evan texted her? She had to have assumed the man would only escalate his attempts to get close to her again. He'd nearly killed her the last time. Would have, if it hadn't been for the dog.

Dylan glanced down at Roscoe, sleeping on his side of the bed. He knew if he were to reach out his hand, the dog would immediately be under his fingers. As if knowing Dylan's attention was on him, Roscoe opened an eye and met his gaze. Dylan gave him the hand cue to stay. In only a few days, he and the dog had connected more than he'd thought possible. How bad must things have been for Evan's dog, who was likely just as connected to him as Roscoe was to Dylan, to turn on him and die protecting Julia?

Julia stirred against him, and he realized his fingers were digging into her waist. He relaxed his grip and tried to focus, reminding himself that until he got his hands on this man, he had to control the rage that pulsed through his veins. Tango whined at the end of the bed and moved his head to lie over Julia's feet, looking right into Dylan's eyes with his whiskey-colored gaze, as if he understood and agreed that, together, they would protect her to the death.

J
ULIA TRIED TO
blink, but her eyes felt swollen and caked with sand. She groaned as she forced them open, and her hand slid over the soft cotton by her head. Her fingers touched solid muscle and warm flesh.

This isn't my pillow.

She started to sit up, but she was held in place by strong arms. A moment of panic started to take root until the memories of last night came flooding back to her. She lifted her eyes slowly, not sure what to expect from Dylan but hoping he was sleeping and she could sneak away.

“Good morning, beautiful.” He brushed her bangs back and stared down into her eyes. “I probably should have woken you a few hours ago, but you looked so content, I wasn't about to ruin that peace for you.”

“What time is it?”

She curled her fingers in front of her mouth, feeling incredibly self-conscious. Had she snored? Did her breath stink? Had she really soaked his shirt crying last night? Her father's voice echoed in her head—
Cowgirl up
.

She and her sister had heard the phrase their entire lives. Her father, Colton Hart, had taught his daughters that they were just as strong as any cowboy. He had instilled in them the ability to buck up under whatever circumstances life threw at them and move on with their heads held high, even though at times it had made him seem callous.

“Time to make a call to the police station.”

“Dylan,” she began, but the look on his face stopped her.

He couldn't understand her desire to not start the entire fiasco again. She hadn't told him about the drama that ensued when people found out about the attack, the media circus that had surrounded her family. Most of the people who'd grown up knowing the Harts stood by her, but those who hadn't, mostly outsiders, insinuated it was her fault, that she was stupid and naive to have allowed a male client to stay at her home. She hadn't wanted to admit that they were likely right, but there wasn't really another way to work with her clients. She'd been publicly crucified, even before the trial.

She was afraid of Evan, afraid of how easily he'd fooled her, afraid of what he could do again, especially now that he was out for retaliation and declaring ownership of her. He had nothing left to lose, and that, in combination with his deranged mental state, was a dangerous combination. She pushed herself up and swung her legs over Tango and off the side of the bed.

Dylan sat up and reached for his phone. “Don't tell me you're not going to call. If you don't, I will.”

His voice didn't allow for argument, but that didn't mean she was going to acquiesce easily. He had to realize what calling would entail.

“Are you ready to leave so soon? Because if I call them, that's what will have to happen. You'll have to go stay in town with your brother. I can't have that circus again, Dylan. You have no idea how horrible it was once the media got wind that there was a story.”

She could see understanding dawn on him. His eyes grew fierce, the way they had when she told him about Evan's attack last night. “It wasn't the locals, it was everyone else,” she said. “If they find out that you're staying here, alone . . . You can imagine what people will say, even if it's all untrue.”

She ran her hands through her blonde hair and pulled it back into a messy ponytail, reaching for a hair tie on the nightstand, and stood up. Tango jumped off the bed, and she brushed at her T-shirt.

“Then Gage can come back.”

She shook her head, a caustic laugh breaking over her lips. “Yeah, because staying with
two
men would look so much better.”

“There has to be some sort of answer, Julia. You can't
not
call the police. You said the locals weren't—”

“All we have in town is a small sheriff's way station. They'll send one of the deputies out and then call the main office, which puts me right back where I started. It won't make a difference anyway. I know it was Evan, but I can't prove it. He's dangerous, but he's not stupid. He knows I can't prove he violated the restraining order. The most the police can do is watch him.”

“If they're watching him, he can't hurt you,” Dylan pointed out. “Where did you stay after the last attack? I know your brother wouldn't have let you stay here alone.”

Julia shook her head. “No, he came and stayed here for a few weeks. But I can't ask him—”

“Fine,” Dylan interrupted. “I'll tell him that Evan texted you the other day and you chose not to tell anyone about it. I'm sure that will go over with him like a lead balloon.”

He'd met her brother only last night, but she knew they'd gotten along, at least as well as her brother would with any man who might have kissed one of his sisters. She glared at him, knowing he wouldn't think twice about ratting her out to Justin. “I knew better than to introduce the two of you. You're two peas in a pod.”

Dylan moved around the bed and pulled her back into his embrace. His lips brushed against hers in a breath of a kiss. It was all she could do to keep from twining her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her, losing herself in the warm tremors that broke out over her flesh when he touched her. “Because we both want to protect you? Because neither of us wants to see you hurt?”

“No,” she said on a breath against his lips as she smiled. “You're both pains in the ass.”

“W
HAT
'
S GOING ON
?” Justin eyed the two of them, and Julia cursed the fact that he knew her well enough to see her anxiety.

“More pancakes?” She slid the syrup his direction.

“Stop stalling and tell me what's going on.” He arched a brow and looked at Dylan. “I swear if you—”

“It's Evan,” she interrupted, and watched her brother's face go pale. She hated that worry had creased his brows and that she was the reason for it.

“What about him?”

“He's contacted Julia.” Dylan spoke before she could break the news to her brother. She glared at him, but Justin jumped up from the table, knocking the chair over as he reached for his phone in his pocket.

“Stop, Justin.” She reached for his arm, but he jerked it from her grasp. Roscoe and Tango both jumped to a standing position. “You can't call anyone.”

“I'm calling the police.” Justin glared at Dylan. “Why haven't you called them?”

“Because you sister refuses to call and go through that media frenzy again.” Dylan shook his head and slipped the phone from between Justin's fingers, standing to face him down. “And she's right. If she can't prove it was Evan, they can't do anything.”

“This isn't something you can shove under the rug, Julia. That guy is dangerous.” Justin worked his jaw, barely containing his self-control. “Give me my phone.”

“Not until you sit down and listen to what she has to say.”

“Who the hell are you to tell me what is best for my sister? You probably don't even know the entire story.” Justin shoved his hands against Dylan's shoulders, but she was surprised he didn't even budge. The two of them stared at one another like dogs preparing for a fight.

“Stop, both of you.” She slipped between them but faced her brother. “I need a favor.”

“For me to call the police? Sure thing.” He held out his hand, waiting for his phone.

Julia sighed at her brother. As much as she adored him, at times he was nothing more than an overbearing child. “I will call the sheriff, but only if you come stay here. Gage will come back as well. I'm also thinking of asking Bailey to come stay.” She shook her head, still convinced this was a bad idea. “I'm just worried about putting everyone in danger.”

Justin reached for her shoulders, but his touch was warm as he pulled her into a hug. “Julia, you don't even need to ask.” He leaned toward her ear and whispered, “I'd already planned on moving in until Dylan's gone. We've been down this road once; that was enough.”

Disappointment flooded her. He didn't trust her. He thought she was going to make the same mistake with Dylan that she'd made with Evan, and he wanted to keep a close eye on her. He wasn't wrong. She was falling for a client, hard, but Dylan wasn't like Evan.

Justin pulled away from her and looked at Dylan behind her. She couldn't see his face, but she could practically feel the tension radiating from both of them and wondered if Dylan hadn't heard what Justin had whispered. “Don't worry, sis, with all of us here, only a fool would try anything.”

She wasn't sure if Justin was talking about Evan, or trying to warn Dylan to keep his distance.

D
YLAN
'
S GAZE DIDN
'
T
waver as he glared at Justin over Julia's head. The double meaning of Justin's statement wasn't lost on him. He'd heard Justin's comment to Julia, and his fist clenched at his side to keep from punching the man square in the mouth. How dare he make Julia feel as if their relationship might be a mistake? To insinuate that he wasn't any better than Evan?

“I'm going to call Gage and tell him to come back.”

He wanted to reach out to her, to pull Julia into his embrace and carry her back to the bedroom, where they could hide from the world, from crazy exes and overprotective, judgmental siblings, but this was real life. And real life didn't allow time for fantasies now.

Or later.

He ignored the thought, pushed it away forcefully, and pulled his cell phone from his pocket, dialing his brother. Gage picked up on the second ring.

“Hey, what's up?”

“I need you to come back here and stay.”

“Miss me already?” his brother teased. When Dylan didn't answer, worry tinged Gage's voice. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

It bothered him that his brother immediately assumed something had gone wrong, most likely that it was Dylan's doing. Or maybe he was just reading too much into the comment.

“It's a long story, but Julia needs our help. She's got a stalker ex, and he's back on the prowl. I'll explain it when you get here. Hopefully, you beat the police.”

He heard the phone shift and shuffling of papers before a laptop snapped shut. “I'm on my way.”

“Okay. And Gage,” he added, “thanks for the push, man.”

“Anytime.”

J
ULIA SAT AT
the kitchen table while Deputy Chase McKee jotted down his notes. She'd been thrilled when she saw Chase exit the patrol car. He'd grown up in town and worked as a deputy under his father's supervision. His nonjudgmental questions helped to lighten the overwhelming desire Julia had to hide from everyone. Tango laid his head on her thigh, and she rested her hand behind his ear.

“Are you sure it was him, Julia?”

“Last night? No,” she confessed. “I didn't see him or the vehicle he had, but there was someone here and they tried to get into the house. And Evan did text and call me.”

“And you're completely sure it was him on the phone?”

She met his curious green eyes. “I'll never forget his voice, Chase. That was him.”

Chase closed his report folder and stood up. “I'll get this report filled out and I'll try to keep a lid on things for you.” His eyes turned sympathetic. “Dad told me it got pretty bad during the trial. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you more, but right now, we're the only two who know.”

“Thanks, Chase.” She looked down at the dog still lying over her lap. Chase reached over and patted Tango.

“Everything else is okay? Justin is staying, too, right?” She nodded. “I'll have to dust the door. Hopefully I can get a clean print.” He looked out the window where Dylan, Gage, and Justin all waited on the front porch, giving them privacy to talk. “No Bailey today?”

“She's coming over after she's finished helping her dad at the car dealership.” She might be preoccupied with her own worries, but she didn't miss the way Chase perked up when he asked about her cousin. “You want to stay for dinner? She should be here by then.”

He looked thoughtful before tucking the metal clipboard under his arm. “Naw, I gotta head back to the station. I promised Dad he could spend the evening with my mom for her birthday.” He walked toward the front door. “Have you checked up on this new guy yet?”

She cocked her head at him. “I already have one brother breathing down my neck. Now you, too?”

“You can't be too careful, Julia. I'll run a background check on him and his brother. I'm sure they're fine. Don't be too hard on Justin. You three girls are all he has left.” She followed him out to his car, where he retrieved his gear from the trunk. “Thanks for letting us talk privately, guys.” He waved to the three men on her porch, and they headed back inside. Dylan stood at the door and waited for her with Roscoe at his side. Chase laughed quietly. “Yeah, he's probably fine. Looks like he's giving Justin a run for his money on who's more overprotective.”

She looked at Dylan and smiled. “Dylan wins, hands down.”

D
YLAN LEANED BACK
into one of the patio chairs watching Julia play with the dogs while his brother sat across from him, his gaze intent. “Well, that was fast.”

“What was?” Dylan didn't let his gaze stray from the woman jumping and prancing on the lawn like a woodland imp.

“You, falling for her.”

Dylan sucked in a deep breath, preparing to deny what even he knew was the truth, wondering why he was even bothering to try to hide it. Did he really think he was fooling anyone? He blew out the breath in a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I know.”

Gage leaned back in the chair with his eyes wide. “Whoa! Wait, no rebuttal, no argument? No denial?”

“Why bother?” Dylan shrugged and met his brother's gaze, letting the weight of defeat settle over him. “It doesn't matter. In two weeks, we'll be gone. It'll be better that way. I can't strap her down to this crap I'm dealing with. She's already moved past hers.”