alarm and the other traps he set around the entrance every time he went out, but nothing seemed obviously out of place there.
Still, the prickling sensation didn’t ease. He’d learned long ago to pay attention when a sharp pain whacked him between the shoulder blades. He failed to listen exactly one time in his professional life and had the scar on his leg to prove it. He intended to heed the warning this time.
Unfortunately, his weapons all sat securely inside. He’d never imagined he’d need a gun today. Violence should take one day off.
He scanned the area again, looking for any change no matter how small. The gate to the side yard on the right of his place caught his attention. Every time he closed it, he pulled it tight enough for the gate to swing inside the yard slightly. The gate hung even with the fence now. That meant someone had used the walkway to get to his backyard, outside of the view of the street.
Smart, but not smart enough.
The fact the alarm had not been tripped made him think the burglar never made it inside the house. Liam hoped like hell the guy was still around. It would feel good to pound someone right about now, to work out all of his aggression and anger at Maura’s loss.
Liam knew he had surprise on his side. His dark jeans would provide some camouflage but the white oxford would give his position away. The important thing was he had the freedom of movement he needed to get the jump on whoever wanted inside his house.
If he disengaged the alarm it would beep, so he decided to go with the soundless option: circle around the left side and hunt this guy down from the outside. No need to dissect the plan. He got moving.
He lifted the latch and stalked along the side of the house, careful not to tip off anyone to his location. His feet fell quiet against the soft grass as he inched along the red-brick wall. When he reached the corner, he peeked around to the patio and saw a figure slumped in one of his deck chairs. All he could make out were slats of wood and a mop of brown hair.
He pounced, hitting the deck at a dead run. At the last minute, his unwanted visitor turned around. Recognition washed through him, but it was too late for Liam to change his path. He crashed into the chair, sending them both careening toward the hardwood floor. Liam managed to twist his body and shoulder most of the impact, but they both went down with a humph.
He groaned as his muscles recovered from the jolt. “Maura?”
She sprawled on top of him not moving.
“Hey!” He held on to her and struggled to sit up despite his awkward position, and about a hundred-thirty pounds of extra weight piled on top of him. “Are you okay?”
She mumbled something that sounded like words but didn’t make much sense.
Her long hair hung down in her face, but at least she was alive. “What are you doing back here? Why aren’t you at Dan’s house? The police think—”
Her chest rose and fell on heavy breaths as she stared at him. “Do you welcome everyone that way?”
Liam shook his head, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Who he was seeing. “What the hell is going on?”
“That tackle wasn’t as bad as the fire, but close.”
“You’re supposed to be dead.” Not the brightest conversation starter ever, but he figured it got the job done.
Confusion cleared from her eyes. “Well, I’m not.”
He gave her a little squeeze then shifted her to the side and off his injured leg as gently as possible. He took a long look at her. He rarely saw her despite his relationship with Dan. When he did, Liam was struck by a beautiful woman with a round face and big chocolate-brown eyes. Curvy, with shiny hair and wide smile.
Now she had cuts on her hands and face. A bruise colored her cheek. Her clothes hung loose as if she showered and threw on someone else’s tee and pants.
“Let’s try my first question again. Are you okay?” he asked.
“I was, until about three seconds ago when you pummeled me.”
“Thought you were a burglar.”
She brushed her hands up and down her arms. “You have an interesting way of protecting your property.”
She had no idea what he was capable of. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Dan thinks you’re dead. Everyone does.”
“Can we go inside?”
It was a cool April day and she was dressed for summer, but the weather was just about the last thing on his mind. “Explain first.”
“Inside.” She glanced around and then leaned in to whisper. “Please.”
No way could he fight that scared look on her face. He struggled to his feet and held a hand down to help her up. Her fingers felt like ice against his skin. “You could have gone in.”
“You have enough security here for a small city.” She nodded toward the alarm panel. “Without the code, I wasn’t about to risk it. I didn’t want the police to come.”
“Why?”
She dropped his hand. “I’ll explain once we get inside. Promise.”
The fence and tall trees gave them privacy, but the way she chewed on her lower lip suggested she didn’t feel all that safe. Paranoid and hunted—words he never would have used to describe her before. But they worked now. She’d aged before his eyes.
It was official. He had no idea what was going on. That wasn’t exactly a new sensation where Maura was concerned, but this wasn’t about her fancy job and impressive book smarts. This was a common-sense matter of talking to the police. Seemed simple to him.
“Let’s go.” When he reached over to guide her to the door with a hand at her back, she flinched. The reaction surprised him. Ticked him off, too. “Are you afraid of me now?”
The taunt came more from habit than anything else. She had been avoiding him for so long that he expected her to do nothing else.
Her chin lifted. “Of course not.”
He noticed she cradled her right arm and immediately regretted the verbal battle. He knew that protective maneuver. It probably meant injury. When he asked all of the other questions swimming in his mind, he’d ask that one, too. But for now, he wanted her talking. The faster they did that, the faster he could call Dan and save his friend’s liver from the pickling it had been subjected to for the last few hours.
“Where have you been?” Liam asked.
“Hiding.”
After a quick set of punches on the keypad, Liam opened the door and motioned for her to step inside. He expected her to walk through the kitchen to his family room and curl up on the couch. Instead, she hunkered down on the bar stool and stared at his fridge.
He tried to assess her mood and failed. “Are you hurt?”
She rubbed her arm. Probably didn’t even realize she did it. “Sore, but otherwise okay.”
