Rock Hard (Siren Publishing Classic) by Tatum Throne Page B

were an issue with the husband who drank. Ann’s dark, curly hair swayed forward to cover her cheeks.
    “Got a minute?” Ann asked.
    “Sure.” Kade closed the door as she sat down in the chair across from his desk. She fidgeted nervously and wouldn’t meet his gaze head-on. She stared at the pictures of his family on the shelf behind his chair. “What’s up?”
    “I need a place to stay for a while. Somewhere he won’t find me.”
    “I know the perfect place. Are you packed?” he asked and prayed to the universe that she was.
    “Yeah...I’ve filed for divorce, too. He’s angry.”
    Kade felt his jaw clench tight. The most dangerous time for a woman was when she was leaving. They had to do this right to keep her safe. “You remember my sister, Kendra?”
    “The one who’s blind?”
    “That’s the one. She lives across town. It’s secluded. I set her up with state–of-the-art security after her accident. He won’t be able to find you there.”
    “I couldn’t impose.”
    “You won’t be, and we both know it’s temporary until things settle down,” Kade said.
    “I’d want to pay her.”
    Kade softened his eyes because he knew she was on the emotional edge. Right then, he was thankful that they had cameras all over the building, and all the entrances were locked. No one got in or out without going through security. “You can work that out with Kendra.”
    “Thanks, Kade...I...”
    “Don’t even worry about it. I just want you to be safe. I’ll give Kendra a call and work out the details.”
    “Okay.” She left the door open when she walked out.
    The pencil in Kade’s hand snapped in half in his right hand. Kade knew Ann’s soon-to-be ex well. He stayed at the local watering hole all day before stumbling home. It was only a matter of time before he killed someone on the road or Ann. Kade reached for the phone to call the state boys. He was going to make sure Ann was safe for the rest of her life.

Chapter Eight
     
    Wynn told herself that she was only going after Kade to get her black-and-yellow Scarpa climbing shoes back. They were too expensive to replace so soon. Wynn broke down camp and hiked back to her Jeep in record time.
    Instead of going after him right away, Wynn drove to the hotel she was staying in and showered and changed into something that was sure to get his unwanted attention. A copy of Kade’s personnel file was sitting on the other queen-size bed. She couldn’t go there now. What she needed to know most wasn’t in those files. She needed to know about his personal life to rule him out as a suspect. That meant following him wherever he led her.
    The Forest Service field office was located within the boundaries of Red River Gorge. Wynn recognized Kade’s truck, from the files, sitting in the parking lot. The government vehicle he’d been using the other day was parked off the side entrance, too.
    He was here.
    Wynn made sure to park on the far side of his truck. As she got out, she stepped up on the running board and looked around the inside of his truck. Her climbing shoes were on the floorboard. She tried the door, but it was locked.
    “I guess you’re looking for your shoes.”
    Wynn whirled around to see Kade. He wasn’t in uniform, but there was still that dangerous, Dirty Harry glint to his eye. “I thought you had to work.”
    “My safety meeting ended early.” His gaze went from the natural shade of her roots to her high heels. “Where you going?”
    Wynn felt breathless when he looked at her that way. The sundress was a last summer throwback. “Nowhere.”
    “Why don’t I believe you?” he asked himself.
    “Can I please have my shoes back?”
    “No.”
    She let the anger she was feeling flare in her eyes. She went to move around him, but he stopped her with a firm hand on her elbow. “I guess I’ll have to report them stolen.”
    “No you won’t. Get in the truck, Wynn.”
    “I don’t think so.”
    He unlocked it with his remote and opened the