committed early Thursday

morning at a local restaurant.

The suspect got away with

under a hundred dollars, but

in the process of his crime

sent a waitress to the local

hospital with a single gun

shot wound. The victim, Kate

Davis, was subsequently

treated and released.

Officer Moore states his

department has been in

contact with a local security

agency who have Miss Davis

and her son under 24-hour

surveillance.

Kate’s stomach churned while she put the paper down. Richard watched her every move.

“Ritter Security… that would be you?” He pushed off the desk and sat down next to her. “Moore called me late last night.”

“Officer Moore from the article.”

“Yeah. He suggested we keep you and Joey off the streets until we find the suspects.”

“What do you mean, we? You’re not a cop.” His chest rose with a deep breath. “Cops are sometimes limited by the law.”

She listened to his slow and well thought out explanation. He hid something. Was he some type of vigilante, bent on revenge? Fear of the unknown kept her from asking what he meant. She moistened her lips, then spoke, “You’re not limited by the law?” He turned his eyes down, keeping her from seeing what lay below their murky depths. ”A civilian, even a security guard, has the right to protect their loved ones from foul play.” The term, loved ones, didn’t go un-noticed. Her heart skipped, even though her mind told her not to jump to conclusions.

“How is it you think you can keep us safe if the cops can’t?” She fished for answers. From the expression on his face, he knew it.

Without speaking, Richard stood and moved behind Max’s desk. He opened the right side drawer where a series of buttons sat atop a large black box.

He flipped a switch and the bookcase started to move.

Kate watched in awe as the giant wall of bookshelves turned in small sections. With the transformation complete, a massive amount of monitors lined the room. Richard continued pressing buttons and one by one, the monitors flickered on.

Kate’s hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes widened seeing the entire Ritter property, including every room in the house, come into view. The pool where Joey splashed around sparkled in full color.

Richard flipped a switch and sound came over the speakers. “…let’s see you do a handstand, Joey.” The voice belonged to Janet. And Kate heard it with an eerie clarity.

“Wow!” Was all she could say. He wasn’t kidding when he said his brother’s home was secure.

Richard moved from around the desk. He stood in front of her blocking her view of the wall. “I want you and Joey safe.”

Kate had always prided herself with her self-

preservation gene. No one carried a bigger interest in her and Joey’s safety than she did. Why did he?

What was in it for Richard? After only two days and one kiss, why did she and her son matter to him?

“I could think of worse places to have to stay put,” she finally said.

His shoulders relaxed. He reached out and pulled her to her feet.

Standing this close to him put her emotions and hormones on overdrive. She hated to admit it, but she could smell his masculine scent with a hint of spice and that drove her crazy.

His hand brushed aside a lock of her hair. Her breath caught with his touch. Without thinking, she leaned into his hand before he had a chance to pull it away. She starved for male attention. No, she thought, for his attention.

He left his hand on her cheek and leaned close.

His lips caught hers in a kiss so tender it brought tears to her eyes.

Instead of letting them fall, she closed her eyes and wound her good arm around his waist bringing him closer. His fingers fanned out in her hair and forced her head back. He angled his head and plunged his tongue into her hungry mouth.

Her head swam in a wave of dizziness. Good lord! Had she ever felt so dazzled by a kiss?

His hands skimmed down her neck and shoulders. His thumbs traced the outline of her br**sts. Nipples pebbled instantly with his brief contact, and a moan escaped her lips.

Wet heat pooled between her legs. When he moved closer, his hardened body pressed against hers. His arousal lay nestled against her stomach.

His heat engulfed her senses.

She broke away from his kiss only to have him move his lips to her neck. Small circular movements of his tongue had her fists clenching. Her body throbbing.

“Ohhh…” His mouth dipped above her breast, her hand reached for the buttons of his shirt.

He managed to lower her blouse and capture her nipple in his mouth. “Oh, Richard,” she moaned.

Heat shot to her core and had his hand been anywhere near her center, she would have climaxed then and there.

There was no denying it. She wanted Richard in the most primal of ways. Naked, hard, and ready.

“I want you,” she said barely above a whisper.

He stiffened with her confession and moved his lips back to hers. After an earth shattering kiss he drew back until she opened her eyes.

“Let me come to you tonight.”

Her breath came in small pants. Joey’s giggle came through the PA of the security system telling them both that now wasn’t the time.

If she said yes, she knew there was no turning back. If she said no, she’d be lying to herself… And him. “I’ll go to bed early.”

He dropped his forehead to hers, briefly brushed his lips past hers, and backed away.

****

It proved one of the longest and most frustrating days of his life. Once Kate and Joey were safe and sound, Richard and Max left for the hunt. Along the way, Max explained the subtle differences in scents. Kate’s car had been clearly marked by the wolf who now stalked her, which made her an easy target. But the scent could very well lead them to their enemy.

Max had mapped out all locations they knew the predator had been. Every target they hit in their six-month crime spree along with places Max had picked up with his nose.

They went back to the school and managed to trace their prey to a pair of tire tracks.

Unfortunately, those tracks left a dead end.

“Now what?” Richard settled his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose and regarded the busy freeway.

“I think it’s time for a trip to the station.”

“You think Moore will have additional information?”

“Possibly. We need to get our hands on any physical evidence they’ve gathered. Maybe we can find a fresh scent and a new trail to follow.” Moore met them in a private room with bags of evidence spread out before them.