A Marshal's Promise Read online

  She sighed. Who could figure?

  She eased the door almost closed. She didn’t want him to think she was inviting him into her room, but she wanted to feel his presence, his protection, even if he was sleeping.

  She wanted to know that if she needed him, he was there.

  That he was there, even if she didn’t need him.

  After all, isn’t that what she had always wanted from him?

  ****

  What did she want from him?

  Gunner turned in bed and pressed a pillow over one side of his head, hoping to drown out the sounds of Mina taking a shower. Was he a glutton for punishment or what? Why had he gotten himself involved with her situation?

  Temptation and desire rippled through every nerve in his body. What he wouldn’t give to slide back into the connecting room and join her.

  He was definitely not as strong in his faith as his friend Trent. Trent’s counsel echoed through his brain, “You’re not made of steel, Gunner, but God has given you the power you need to fight this battle.”

  God, I don’t know why You brought Mina back into my life. I don’t know what I’m doing in this room right now with her on the other side of that door. All I know is that You promised that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and that You’ll never leave me. I’m asking for that strength right now. Asking that You’ll help me stay focused on why I’m here. Show me what I need to do for her, how I can be a blessing instead of a curse. And I pray for sleep. I’ve got a big day tomorrow.

  He heard the water stop. Praise God.

  Silence. Then the connecting door closed all the way.

  Thank you, God. His eyes drifted shut.

  3

  Willow squinted at the alarm clock next to the bed. She bolted upright and sputtered for breath.

  Eight o’clock already! She must have forgotten to set her phone alarm. She jerked the covers back and tugged the last set of clean clothes from the suitcase, dressing quickly in casual pants.

  Tessa was probably already up and bugging Regi about what time Willow would be back. Willow hated being away from her daughter on the weekends. Who was she kidding? She hated to be away from Tessa, period.

  She dug around in her laptop bag and found a green teabag, poured some cold water into a cup, and set it in the microwave to heat. She’d drink this while she jotted Gunner a thank you note. If he kept to old habits, he wouldn’t be awake for a few more hours.

  Willow walked over to the adjoining door and eased it open, peeking in Gunner’s room with one eye. The man lounged on the couch reading from a pad of paper, one leg crossed over the other. Her mouth gaped open, and she couldn’t stop the slight gasp that escaped.

  He lowered the pad and smiled at her. “Good morning, sunshine.”

  He was calling her sunshine? With the sun’s warm rays blazing through the open window, he could have passed for an angel. But she knew better.

  Willow opened the door wide and walked into the room. “Why are you up so early? Aren’t you the guy who always volunteered for the later shifts so you wouldn’t have to get up before ten?”

  A faint smile graced Gunner’s eyes. “One and the same. But those days are over. Long gone. I’m a changed man.”

  Up and dressed before eight? In a suit? This just didn’t compute. She looked him over, surprise mingling with disappointment at his freshly shaved face. Where was his ever-present five o’clock stubble? The whiskers that always scratched her cheeks when he kissed her.

  She wanted the stubble back. And the jeans with the shirttail hanging out the back. Even the uniform. That’s who Gunner was. Not this clean-shaven guy sitting here all decked out in a suit.

  What was wrong with her? Being with Gunner felt surreal, as if ten years faded away to yesterday.

  Maybe he wasn’t joking with her. The door had stayed closed all night. Just like she’d left it.

  “What time did you want to head to the airport?”

  “You don’t have to take me to the airport, Gunner. I’m a big girl.” At least, she was in the light of day. Tonight might be a different story, but then she would be back in familiar surroundings. Out of Brugman’s creepy radius.

  He frowned and tossed the tablet next to a diet soda can on the end table. “I would rather take you and make sure no one is following you. See that you feel comfortable getting on the plane.” He glanced at his watch. “How much longer before you’re ready?”

  “Really, Gunner. I can handle myself.” The microwave dinged, and she walked through the connecting door to retrieve her cup. She squeezed the teabag, added a little sweetener, and breezed back into Gunner’s room. “I don’t know what got into me last night. Probably just jitters from a long drive on a rainy night. And finding some things in my audit that caught me off-guard.”

  He studied her for a full minute. She lifted her chin, shielding her face behind a blank mask so that he couldn’t see her wavering emotions. She did not need him. She hadn’t needed him for ten years. She would get back to Tampa by herself.

  “Are you sure? I can get you to the airport in plenty of time before my appointment at ten. If not, I can reschedule.”

  “Reschedule? I wouldn’t want you to waste that awesome shave job on me. No, thank you. I’ll be fine.” After all, she didn’t mean anything to him. Couldn’t mean anything to him.

  She savored a sip of tea. “You know why I’m in Charlotte. Tell me why you’re here.”

  “Besides wanting to apologize to you?”

  She narrowed eyes, not wanting to be drawn into that right now. She wasn’t ready to forgive him, so there was no point in hearing another apology from him. “Yeah. Besides that.”

  “I plan on relocating around here. They’re supposed to be offering me the transfer today. Then I’m on a month’s vacation.”

  Willow paused, cup halfway to her mouth. “Relocating here? To Charlotte?”

  “Actually, Serenity Ridge. A small city northeast of here. I’ll be working out of Charlotte, but living in Serenity Ridge.” He took a long swig of diet soda, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

  She swallowed the heavy lump in her throat and nodded, surprise rendering her speechless. Why had she always taken for granted that Gunner would live in Raleigh forever?

  Angling her head in his direction, she asked, “What do you do now?”

  “The same thing I’m doing for you right now.”

  “Teasing me?”

  He grinned and stood. Took a step toward her. “If I were teasing you—”

  Oh, that grin! She licked dry lips, and her heart picked up speed, headed toward full throttle. “That’s close enough, Gunner. You didn’t answer my question.”

  He nodded, the glint fading from his eyes. “I’m still a cop, Mina, if that’s what you’re asking. Just a different kind. A Deputy U.S. Marshal.”

  So he had changed. A little.

  Gunner, no longer a uniformed cop. Now a suited cop. That idea took some getting used to. But, hey, change was good. And given more time she probably could get used to the suit. Slightly different from the uniform he always wore. The uniform that reminded her of the past, of the family that had been stripped from her, the future changed forever in the blink of an eye. A muttered “ten-four” over the radio and a foot pressed too heavy on the accelerator.

  But time was something they didn’t have. She was leaving for Tampa this morning, and he had an interview to get to.

  That’s funny. She hadn’t noticed until now that she never called Tampa home. Tampa was always…Tampa.

  Willow blinked and cleared her throat. “So a month’s vacation, eh? What will you do for a month?” A ton of things would keep her busy. Besides hanging out with Tessa, she’d catch up on housework. Dabble on a few paintings. But what would Gunner do for a month?

  “I expect I’ll be looking for a new place to live, number one. Once I take care of that, I’ll hang out with my friends. Relax. Among other things.”

  His eyes told her that he felt
sorry for her.

  Well, Gunner just didn’t know. How does a single mom kick back and chill with dishes in the sink and laundry piled halfway to the ceiling? That was just her everyday stuff. She also had to help Tessa with homework and shuttle her back and forth to school, school-related activities, and basketball games.

  At this stage of her life, ‘relax’ was not a word in her vocabulary.

  She pasted what she hoped passed for a smile on her face. “How will you do that?”

  “I don’t know what they call them in Tampa, but around here, they’re called realtors.”

  She scowled at his smirk. “Funny guy. I meant the relax part.”

  He rinsed out the soda can and tossed it in the recycling container. “For starters, my friends live in the middle of the boonies. Nothing to do but soak up the fresh air, sleep with the windows open, play basketball, eat outdoors. Enjoy one another’s company.”

  Sit outside and do nothing? “Ah. I’m not sure if I could do that.” She swallowed the last sip of tea, decided if that was his idea of relaxing, he could keep it. She had too many things to do. Starting with getting to Tampa today. “Okay, then. You enjoy yourself on your month long vacation. And good luck with the job transfer.”

  “Thanks.”

  He snatched up the garment bag and flipped off the light. Cupping her elbow, he led her to the connecting door. “Let’s get your stuff ready, and I’ll walk you to the lobby.”

  ****

  Did Mina really think he would let her go to the airport by herself? After some thug followed her to the hotel last night?

  Not on her life. Or his conscience.

  Gunner leaned his elbows on the counter, waiting for the clerk to check him out. He watched Mina stow her computer bag in the back seat of the rental car and tried to pinpoint the reason his jaw clenched. He had relinquished responsibility for Mina years ago, when he knew it wouldn’t work between them.

  The only reason he hadn’t insisted on seeing her to the airport was that he hadn’t eyeballed the guy in the suit this morning. Not that he hadn’t tried. He’d gotten up before daybreak to check out the lobby and parking lot, but he hadn’t seen any sign of the thug from last night.

  So why was the guilt crushing him this morning? Was it inherent in his job as a Deputy Marshal? When someone needed protection, he had to follow through? Or was it something deeper? Something to do with Mina?

  “Here you go, sir.”

  “Thanks.” Gunner turned and stuffed the receipt into a pocket of the garment bag.

  “Have a good day.”

  Gunner tossed a “thanks” over a shoulder, keeping his eyes glued to Mina’s black car. He stepped outside, the bright sunlight momentarily throwing him off balance. He squinted at his watch, then sprinted to his truck.

  His appointment was about fifteen minutes from the airport. He could follow Mina, make sure she got safely inside the airport terminal, and then be on his way with a few minutes to spare. Would that make him feel better? Judging by the way his stomach knotted, he doubted it.

  He cranked the engine and angled his head backwards. A dark gray car peeled out of the lot, turning left, the same direction Mina had turned. Gunner threw the truck in reverse, backed out, and followed the gray car.

  Could be nothing. Someone late for an appointment. Like he might be if he didn’t keep an eye on the time. On the other hand, it could be the thug following Mina. Gunner decided to keep an eye on both cars.

  And one on her as long as he could.

  4

  Willow took her time programming the airport into her phone app. She waited for the signal to pick up, tuned the radio to a jazz station, and then eased the car away from the hotel.

  Away from Gunner’s protection.

  She snorted and stomped on the accelerator. What was wrong with her? She was a grown woman. Healthy. Independent. Not wealthy, but at least, financially stable. She single-handedly raised her daughter and worked an intellectually demanding job at the same time.

  She didn’t need Gunner.

  Her chin lifted of its own accord. Rebellion clamped down those tiny little quivers attacking her heart.

  She frowned and glanced at the map on her phone. Ten minutes to the airport. A few more hours and she’d be hugging her daughter. Willow had only been gone a week, but it felt like a decade. Too much excitement for her. She wanted her life back. Her quiet, normal life.

  Normal? She’d certainly dealt with her share of less-than-stellar clients over the years. But normal didn’t include Gunner.

  Disappointment stabbed her as she flipped the blinker to turn and mashed the brake chased by determination. He couldn’t find out about Tessa. She didn’t want him to…what? Think badly of her?

  She sniffed and pulled into the return lot for rental cars. How many girls had Gunner ruined after her? Did he even care? And why did she care what he thought?

  Willow caught the bus to the terminal and tugged her suitcase to the airline counter. “When is your next available flight to Tampa?”

  After a few clicks on the keyboard, the agent glanced at a wall clock and flashed a smile, one that said she’d rather be anywhere but at work. Willow was familiar with that feeling. “Ten-thirty. It boards in about an hour. Would you like to reserve a seat?”

  Willow slid a hand into her purse and pulled out her credit card. “Yes, please. An aisle seat if you have one.”

  “Sure. Give me a second, and I’ll let you know what’s available.” Long fingernails clacked against the computer keyboard.

  Willow glanced around the busy terminal, studying the people nearby. A mother with a teenage daughter. A couple of elderly ladies. A few international travelers. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. No one stared back at her or stood around waiting for her to make her next move.

  No suited men chasing her today.

  At least, not yet.

  ****

  Gunner pulled into the short-term parking lot at the airport, trying to keep an inconspicuous distance behind the gray sedan. A sick feeling clenched his gut. Somebody was definitely tailing Mina, to the point of stopping and waiting at the rental car lot.

  He parked and retrieved his gym bag from behind the seat. What was more unnatural than going into an airport terminal without a computer case or luggage of some sort? Like the joker last night wandering around a hotel without a suitcase.

  Gunner glanced at his watch. He still had time. He would scout things out, make sure this bozo stayed on the other side of the terminal from Mina.

  And if he didn’t? Well, Gunner would have to improvise. Go to Plan B, which he was still mulling over. He didn’t want to consider Plan C. That would be on the fly. Literally.

  Gunner breezed through the sliding doors, quickening his pace to keep up with Mina’s tail. Looked like the same suit from the night before. Gunner watched the dude step up to the airline counter.

  Mina might not have checked in yet, but with so few people milling around, he felt sure she had. He sprinted toward the closest security gate, scanning the faces of the people he passed. Several women and children, a few foreign tourists.

  There she was. Standing in front of a book kiosk. A sitting duck.

  Gunner slowed his pace and stepped casually behind her, willing a calm voice to greet her, not wanting to alarm her. “Don’t turn around, sweetheart. We’ve got company.”

  “Huh?” Her startled glance halted midway around. “Gunner?”

  “Yep. Good girl. Don’t turn around. I don’t want him to see your face. Pay for the magazine, and I’ll escort you out of the airport.”

  “But I’ve already paid for my ticket to Tampa.”

  “Your dad can afford it. What’s more important is that you’re safe, right?”

  She nodded and paid for the magazine. Gunner grabbed her suitcase and settled his free hand along her back. “Let’s head out this way. Your tail is still paying for his ticket.”

  She cast frightened blue eyes to him, and the brittle edges of
his heart cracked so loudly he could hear the glaciers dropping off. “S-s-someone is following me again this morning?”

  He nodded, a sinking feeling that he was getting in over his head with her. “All the way from the hotel.”

  “What should I do?”

  “Well, hopefully the thug who followed you here will think you’re on the next flight and board it himself. If we’re lucky, he’ll miss the fact that you’re not on it until he’s exiting in Tampa. At the very least, it buys us some time.”

  She angled her head to inspect the man still standing with his back to them at the ticket counter. Gunner threw an arm around her waist and tugged her close. He didn’t want the man to see her with him, throw off his plan. He had activated Plan B. He didn’t want to abort Plan B and have to come up with Plan C. Not when Plan B suited him fine.

  He would take her to Serenity Ridge with him. She could write her report from there. And afterwards, he would show her how to relax.

  5

  Willow rested her chin in her palm and stared out the passenger window of Gunner’s truck, the airport fifteen minutes behind them. What was she going to do? She couldn’t run from Malcolm’s threats forever. She had Tessa to take care of, a report to file, work piling up at home and at the office. She tried to stifle a heavy sigh, but lost the battle.

  She felt Gunner’s gaze and turned her head to offer him a weak smile. This whole situation wasn’t his fault, but here he was, not complaining at all about the trouble her job caused him. Funny, wasn’t it? During their engagement, she’d always felt that his job inconvenienced her. And she had complained plenty. “Sorry.”

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather wait in that coffee shop back there?” Gunner jerked his head at the driver’s window of the truck as he maneuvered the turn into the parking lot of the U.S. Marshal’s district office. “We lost your buddy at the airport. You could browse the books, drink a latte, even catch a little shut-eye if you wanted.”

  Willow scrunched her nose, debating. Coffee or safety? Making the choice took about two seconds. “No, I think I’ll stick with you, if you don’t mind. I’ll feel safer.”