Mountain Darkness (Wild Mountain Men 1)

I heard him sigh. “The murderer is out there. I don’t want you here all alone.”

I spun so fast, the world tilted for a moment. Met Nix’s dark gaze. “You think… you think the person was after me?” I set a hand on my chest. Holy shit.

He shrugged his broad shoulders. “We have no reason to believe so, but you were there. Hell, maybe he went to the wrong house. Until we know more, I want to keep you safe.”

He stepped close to me, too close, and tucked a stray lock of hair I’d missed capturing in my ponytail back behind my ear. A simple gesture, but not one a detective does to a suspect.

The idea of Nix keeping me safe was so appealing, I practically ached. I didn’t want to do this all alone. I would, I always had. I’d taken care of my mom instead of the other way around. I still did. Bu

t having Nix help me? Hold me? God, keep me safe and take away these troubles?

“Safe,” I repeated woodenly.

No. That wasn’t going to happen. Nix was a fixer. He solved problems. Made things right. That was his job. As detective, I was his job. I didn’t want that. I didn’t want just that. I wanted more from him. So much more. I’d had a crush on him in high school, practically drooled over him whenever he came home from college. We’d gone out a few times to talk about the Policemen’s Ball. Dinner. Coffee. He’d never taken me to his place, never even made out in a car. A kiss on my cheek at my apartment door was as far as we’d ever gotten, but I’d given him my heart—although he’d never known that. Unrequited love, at least on my part.

But I’d learned the truth, learned he’d never wanted me. I wasn’t his type and that had hurt. That had cut to the bone. Had pushed me to leave town.

While I appreciated his concern—I doubted he invited every suspect to stay at his house—I couldn’t accept. My heart couldn’t handle it. A year away should have lessened my feelings for him, but no. Fuck no. I still wanted those big hands on me. I wanted to feel the play of those strong muscles beneath my hands. Wondered what those lips would feel like against mine, other places.

Pure fantasy and I should have been over it by now. He didn’t want me. He didn’t want me—or any other woman—at all. I’d hoped the year away would fix my emotions, but no.

Pulling my mind from the gutter, I said, “I’m fine here.” I held my arm out indicating the couch. Erin’s wealth showed in how she’d decorated the office. Shabby chic all in creams and soft pink. Modern glass mixed with the old brick walls and exposed wood beams. She even had a drink cart in the corner. High end, just like Erin.

“Kit,” he said on a sigh, trying to reach for me again, but he must have seen something on my face because he let it drop. “That’s not the only reason I want you in my house. I—”

“How’s Donovan?” I asked, stepping back, cutting him off.

He frowned, clearly surprised by the question. “He’s fine.”

Donovan Nash was the other man who’d hit every one of my hot buttons. The opposite of Nix. Fair, built like a tank. Equally hot. And nice. And funny. And… lots of ands. He’d joined us on a few occasions planning the ball, but nothing had come of it, no matter how much I’d wanted it to. I’d been crazy to lust after two men. Hindsight was twenty-twenty and it was obvious why. It made me feel really stupid. Silly, for thinking not only one hot guy might be interested in me, but two.

“I can’t let you stay here.” I’d never seen him look at me like this before. Something dark and predatory. Possessive.

Still, it was misplaced and that was like a knife to my insides.

“I know you like to protect people—”

“I want to protect you,” he said, cutting me off. “I thought… I thought we had something going. Before.”

“Before I left town?” I asked, starting to get pissed. He was messing with me.

“Why’d you leave, Kit?” he asked.

As if he didn’t know.

My eyes widened and my mouth dropped open. “Are you serious? You’re asking me that now?”

“You’ve been back five weeks and the first I learn of it… the first I see you is this morning covered in your friend’s blood.”

“Like I said, now?” I was tired, scared, panicked and all that bled over into frustration and anger.

“I thought we were friends.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “I thought we were more than that.”

The office door opened and I jumped. Yup, scared. Nix turned and stuck his arm out, as if shielding me from whomever it was.

Donovan stuck his head into the office, grinned. My heart flipped. That panty-melting smile hadn’t changed a bit since I’d seen him last, an instant reminder of why I’d left town and that I wasn’t over him either.

I was interested in both of these men. Still. Crazy. Insane! One of the things I’d thought about during the year I’d been away. Why would I want two men? Why would I want two men who didn’t want me? Who wanted each other?