Page 16 of Serial Love

Reaching the shaded front porch, she nodded toward one of the chairs. “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll get some lemonade.” She opened the door then stopped suddenly. “Or would you rather have a beer?”

The crinkles at the corners of his eyes captured her attention as he answered, “Lemonade is fine.” Nodding again, she walked inside. Once clear of the front room, she dashed up the stairs taking them two at a time.

Hurrying into the bathroom, she grabbed a brush and ran it quickly through her thick hair before twisting it up in a knot on top of her head. Wetting a washcloth, she swiped the cool towel over her face before eyeing herself in the mirror.No makeup, no time.Shaking her head at the absurdity of trying to impress a man like Jack, she jerked off her stained shirt and pulled on a clean white tank top.

Bounding down the stairs again, she poured two tall glasses of cold lemonade from the refrigerator before moving back to the porch. Her eyes met his immediately, the electricity crackling between them. Suddenly nervous, she simply reached her hand out with the drink.

His fingers slid across hers as he took the glass from her hand. “You going to sit down too?” His voice was low…smooth. She offered a quick nod, and she sat in the rocking chair next to his.

He watched her in silence for a few minutes as she made every attempt to avoid eye contact again. Her hair was pulled up, leaving a few blonde strands to blow in the breeze. Clear blue eyes, matching the cloudless sky. She had changed from the tank top to a clean t-shirt that was modest while still clinging to her curves. He had already perused her ass as she had walked in front of him.Beautiful, pure beautiful.

“What?” she asked, her gaze jerking to his in confusion.

Hell, I said that aloud,he realized. “The view, darlin’. The view is beautiful.”

She gifted him with a smile as she turned back toward the vista. From the porch, they could see the trees of the woods across the road with the Blue Ridge Mountains rising in the distance. She loved this view. The tranquility of this place. “It is beautiful here, isn’t it? Do you have this kind of view at your place?”

He chuckled, realizing she thought he was talking about the mountains. “No darlin’, I don’t have this beauty on my land. At least not right now,” he replied, his eyes still on her.But maybe? Don’t have a clue how that would work out, but just maybe.

They sat in silence for a few more minutes allowing the breeze and shade to fight back the early summer heat.

“Why are you really here?” she finally asked softly, twisting to look at the handsome man sharing her porch.

He looked discomfited for a moment before shaking his head slightly. “Hell if I know,” he replied under his breath. Turning to look at her, he said, “Actually, I wanted to check on you and your grandmother to make sure you were all right.”

She nodded, disappointed, but understood he felt a responsibility. “I appreciate that and we’re fine. In fact, Gram’s scratches are barely noticeable.”

“Yeah, I saw her when I first came.”

“Oh.” Not able to think of anything else to say, she remained quiet.

“I also brought you something,” he added, setting the glass onto the porch railing and reaching into his pocket. Her interest captured, she watched as he pulled out a sturdy, metal bracelet.

Turning toward her, he said, “This is for your grandmother.”

“Gram? You’re giving Gram a bracelet?” she asked in confusion.

He chuckled, “This is a tracking bracelet. We’ll attach it around her ankle, and she won’t be able to take it off. It’ll feel a little weird at first to her, but she’ll soon become accustomed.”

“Tracking?”

He pointed to the center of the bracelet where a flat disc was located. “There’s a tiny electronic tracer inside. If she ever wanders away, then you call us. Luke has already programmed it into our system, and we’d be able to pinpoint her anywhere. It’s waterproof and won’t need the battery changed for a long time.”

She was speechless as she gazed at his outstretched hand, offering her a gift that was so much more than the bracelet. It was a gift of safety for Gram and peace of mind for her.

“I…I…don’t know what to say,” she said. Her eyes filled with tears as she blinked furiously to battle them back.

“Don’t have to say anything. You’re doing a lot here and this’ll take a worry off your plate.”

She turned the disk over in her hand and saw anintricate inscription with SPI on the back. Lifting her questioning gaze back to his, he answered her silent question, “Saints Protection & Investigations. That’s the name of my company.”

Nodding slightly, she fingered the bracelet, tracing the engraved letters. “You said Luke could…um…track it?”

“I run a security operation,” he replied, his eyes finding and holding hers. “I’ve got the equipment?—”

“I can’t afford the service,” she said, handing the bracelet back to him as understanding dawned on her. It was not just a bracelet, but a continuing, expensive tracking system.

He swung his large body around so that he was facing her, taking her hand in his while pulling it toward him. Placing the bracelet in her palm, he continued, “I’ve got the equipment and the means. No cost to you. No cost to Ann. Just the satisfaction of knowing that you’re not pounding the path through the woods some night looking for her.”

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