When he saw them, the adrenaline rush began to drain off.
Rourke looked annoyed and out of breath.
Her frown fading, Tessa seemed guardedly relieved, her hair blowing in the breeze, her skin glowing with the cold, her full red lips pouting, begging to be kissed. "I was so worried about you. We heard the gunfire and I told Rourke how Ashton had shot you. We thought maybe he'd killed you this time."
"Take more than that to get rid of me. We couldn't have that now, could we? Not until I can at least locate Bethany's real murderer and put him behind bars." Hunter managed a smile as he wrapped his arm around Tessa and walked her back home.
She felt warm and soft and his thoughts shifted to dangerous notions of getting naked in bed with her. He attributed some of his feelings to wanting to claim her in front of her old high-school boyfriend. Some of his problem was just being attracted to the minx--more than he thought he'd ever been toward any woman, either human or lupus garou. He kept telling himself it was just because she'd rescued him from the beach, and it was nothing more than appreciating the tender care she'd given him. On the other hand, he might have often felt this way toward women. Hell, maybe he was a real Casanova.
"He's the guy you're hiring to look into this?" Rourke asked, his voice incredulous.
"Yeah. He's an ex-Navy SEAL." She looked up at Hunter with adoring eyes.
He thought she was playing her role a little too obviously.
"A Navy SEAL?" Rourke looked sick again.
"Yep." She patted Hunter's arm. "Can't you tell by the great shape he's in?"
"Why is he an ex-Navy SEAL?"
"He got tired of being away from home, the secret missions, unable to settle down and start a family, right, Hunter?"
Rourke watched them like an investigative reporter looking for another juicy story.
Hunter sighed deep inside. He didn't like making up tales that were too far from the truth, but then again, what if his cover of being an ex-Navy SEAL put the fear of God in the sheriff and his bad seed? It didn't hurt for Rourke to think so either. Hunter imagined the word would soon get out about his "former occupation" since Rourke was a reporter. Hmm, then he would probably investigate him. One good thing about being an undercover operative--Rourke couldn't learn anything.
"Hunter..." Rourke waited for a last name.
Hunter knew only that he was a gray lupus garou. Wolf? Grey?
Grey. That rang a bell. Not quite right, but it would do.
"Grey. And we haven't been properly introduced."
Tessa's eyes widened as she stared at Hunter and she missed a step. He tightened his hold on her. Wishing he had better news, he gave her a subtle shake of his head, warning her he didn't know for sure.
"Rourke Thornburg," the reporter offered and stuck his hand out.
Hunter gave his hand a firm shake, firm enough to let him know the power behind the man.
Rourke's eyes watered and he quickly pulled his hand away. Message received.
Tessa pursed her lips. "Did you see the man who was shooting in the woods?"
"There were two of them. I told them to find game somewhere else, farther north."
"They must have loved you," Rourke said, chuckling.
"They didn't argue and moved along."
"Thanks," Tessa said. "But I don't expect you to chase off all the idiot hunters in the area and risk them shooting you accidentally."
"They're too close to your--" As soon as they came into view of the house, Hunter saw the back door standing wide open. He felt Tessa crumple slightly against him. Tightening his hold on her, he knew she wouldn't have left the house unlocked. The intruder was once again warning them he could come and go as he pleased. Maybe not such a beta after all.
Rourke's chill-bitten cheeks instantly lost their red color. "I saw you lock the door."
"Someone's got a key." Tessa's voice shook.
Hunter gave her a reassuring squeeze, but until he could eliminate the threat, nothing he did would alleviate her concern and for good reason. The stalker was a real danger.
Rourke rubbed his gloved hands. "Who?"
"We don't know. Ashton maybe. But whoever it was got in last night when I went to get firewood from the beach," she said.
"Ashton?" Rourke asked.
"No," Hunter said, not wanting Tessa to fear the wrong man. "Someone else. Wait here with Tessa. I'll check out the place first."
Tessa looked like she had a million questions to ask Hunter, but with Rourke here, the inquisition would have to wait. Hunter stalked inside, monitoring Rourke and Tessa's conversation as he checked the rooms.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Rourke asked Tessa on the porch, sheltered from the sleet and wind.
"Hunter was here. He can take care of it."
"Hunter was here all night?" Rourke asked, his tone not hiding his surprise or irritation.
Hunter couldn't help smiling, figuring Tessa hadn't meant to let it slip. Good to let Rourke know he had no chance with her.
"Good thing that he was."
Glad she felt he was an asset despite the fact he hadn't gotten rid of the stalker, Hunter smelled the bastard's scent where he had rolled on Tessa's sheets again. Hunter growled low.
"And the window he was boarding up?" Rourke asked Tessa.
"The intruder broke it."
"Hell, Tessa, you should never have said you were going to locate the killer and clear Michael's name."
Headed back down the hall, Hunter stopped in his footsteps, not believing Tessa would say that to a reporter. Then again, he could, as angry as he imagined she'd been.
"Did you print the interview?" she asked, her voice accusing.
"Damn right I did. Best news I've had in a long time. But I didn't think anyone else was guilty of the crime except your brother so I didn't believe there was anything to worry about. If I had thought differently, I would never have printed that story."
Hunter wanted to kill the reporter.
"All clear," Hunter said, rejoining them on the back patio. He gave both Tessa and Rourke a hard look. "Looks like nothing's been disturbed." At least as far as he would let Tessa know for now. The gray had returned to find out where Hunter had slept for the night and returned to mark his claim to Tessa. Sorry to disappoint him. "What's this about an interview?"
Tessa swore Hunter had the hearing of a cat, although she had hoped he hadn't heard what Rourke revealed about the interview. "I was angry." Not that she felt she had any need to explain the way she felt to Hunter.
Did he remember anything more about his past? She knew Grey wasn't his real name. Not if the way he had shaken his head at her earlier was any indication of the truth of the matter. She only wished Rourke would go away soon so she could ask Hunter what else he had recalled and why he was so certain the intruder wasn't Ashton.
A shiver crawled up her spine. She felt she could deal with knowing it was Ashton, but if it was a total stranger... No, it had to be someone she knew because he had a key. But still, not knowing who made it more frightening.
Rourke pulled off his wet coat and handed it to Tessa. "I'm staying for dinner."
Her mouth dropped. Now, she remembered why the guy had been an on-again/off-again boyfriend in her youth. He decided things for her, which were not in her best interests. She meant to remind him the electricity was off, but Hunter cut in.
"Sounds good. Why don't you stay the night, too?"
Tessa glared at Hunter. Of all the damned nerve!
Ignoring her threatening look, Hunter continued, "The roads are too slick. You might not get very much farther down the road and be in the same predicament. If you got injured, we wouldn't be able to forgive ourselves."