Guarded Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

broke the brief silence. “I apologize for the chilly
welcome. Morgan has been a bit…stressed lately. And he doesn’t like to ask for
help.” The older man chuckled softly. “We have to force it on him for his own
good.”
    Apparently little had changed over the years.
    “We’ve never worked with—”
    Morgan’s return interrupted the small talk. Brook was only
partially dismayed. Small talk wasn’t anything she enjoyed but she enjoyed
Morgan’s presence less.
    “The police have taken them away,” Morgan said as he scraped
dirt off his shoes onto the rough mat inside the door. Though his eyes were on
Brook, he spoke to them both. “Mira is returning to Chicago.” His attention
switched to Irvin across the room. “You should as well.”
    Brook’s shoulders stiffened involuntarily. From a security
standpoint the situation would improve if Morgan sent his employees away. She
knew this. It was the prospect of being alone with Morgan for days that didn’t
particularly appeal. The only reason she hadn’t throttled him a dozen times in
their youth had been the proximity of one of his family members. Who would stop
her now?
    Irvin’s knowing smile increased. He nodded eagerly. And then
he started toward the back office.
    Brook worked hard to battle down her unease. It was unlike
her to experience any emotions apart from determination and impatience while
working an assignment. She was experiencing a slew of them now.
    This wasn ’ t a
good start.
    * * * * *
    Morgan readjusted his collar for the second time as Brook
inspected the bedroom. It was the nicest guest room in the cottage. And it was
beside his.
    “There are other rooms,” he said, “if you’d prefer something
else. I assumed you’d want the one beside mine in case…” Morgan couldn’t bring
himself to speak the words. It was unreal to think someone wanted to hurt
him—he who had done nothing but try to help people for as long as he could
recall.
    “In case someone tries to kill you in the middle of the
night,” Brook said tonelessly. Before he could react she went on. “The security
in this house is inadequate. You have more windows than walls. The majority of
them are bare or have filmy coverings that might as well be transparent. Anyone
with a rifle and a scope could pick you off without getting their hands dirty.”
She craned her neck back for a look at him. “Do you have any other residences?”
    Security had never been a concern in the high priest’s home
until now. Violent upheavals were for the Fire witches. Water witches simply
bickered until someone threw a tantrum and stormed out. Had he pissed off any Fire
witches lately?
    Morgan shook his head. “I rented out my condo.”
    She made a dismissive gesture. “Then we’ll have to make do
for now. Show me where you sleep.”
    Warmth flushed through his cheeks and down his neck. To his
shame it kept right on going, stirring his cock. He turned away before she’d
see the reaction.
    Brook was close on his heels on the trip next door. Morgan
couldn’t help but watch her as she moved around the space moments later,
looking for who knew what. Though he wasn’t particularly messy, he certainly
wasn’t tidy. The discarded jeans, T-shirts and cargo shorts on the floor
weren’t impressive, nor was the unmade bed.
    But what did she expect? Irvin had blindsided him with this
Ranger business. Had he known a female would visit his bedroom this afternoon,
he would have put things away.
    It disturbed him to note just how female she was. Had she
always looked like this? Or had his perception of her changed?
    She’d been twenty-six the last time he’d seen her—a brief
run-in at his father’s vacation house he’d almost forgotten. Surely he’d have
noted the toned muscles in her arms, the swell of her hips and those rounded
peaks… He forced himself to look away.
    “Are there any bedrooms without windows?” she asked without
looking at him. “Or with windows that face a neighbor’s