He was bluffing, watching her for a reaction. How would he know whether Nathan wore a watch or not? Not that Nathan did. Lupus garous didn’t wear watches or other jewelry because it was too much of a nuisance if they had to shift quickly.
“Why are you out here alone tonight?” he asked, taking a step closer.
Her heartbeat sped up. If he grabbed her, he’d find himself flat on his back, but she didn’t want to get physical with him and make him even more suspicious.
Footsteps from behind her sounded. Expecting another guard on duty protecting Christmas trees, Anna turned and saw Bjornolf headed in her direction, his steely dark eyes focused on the man questioning her. He looked like he was still on the jungle mission, ready to protect her and kill any man who threatened her.
She took a breath in relief. In the jungle, they took down the enemies. No problem. In a case like this, the man was harmless. She couldn’t do anything but try to provide a cover for herself and not look like she was a thief.
The man took a couple of steps back. A bit of warmth seeped into her bones as Bjornolf drew nearer.
“My wife isn’t alone.” Bjornolf slipped his left arm around Anna’s shoulders and she leaned into him a little, savoring his protectiveness and warmth. He extended his right hand to the man for a handshake in greeting. “Bjorn and Anna Jorgenson.”
The man hesitated, looking as though he doubted that they were just Nathan’s relatives. He didn’t take Bjornolf’s hand but instead said, “Lemme see some ID.”
Bjornolf released Anna and dragged out a wallet, then pulled out a driver’s license and gave it to him. The man flashed the light over it, then nodded and handed it back. “Yours?” he said to Anna.
“Former cop?” she asked, caustically. She knew he wasn’t, knew he was taking the proper precautions after having come across trespassers in the dark, but she didn’t have to like it. She didn’t have any ID that showed she was Anna “Jorgenson,” either.
She passed over her driver’s license, waited for the man to say something, and was prepared with an answer about her last name being different from Bjornolf’s.
He cocked a brow, looked at her, and said, “Says here your name is Anna Johnson.”
Bjornolf grinned. “We’re newlyweds.” He gave Anna a squeeze, either for show or reminding her that she was supposed to remember the role she was playing.
She instantly said, “I’m not changing my name.” She smiled up at Bjornolf. “Woman’s prerogative. It’s too much of a hassle. What if the honeymoon doesn’t last?”
“Oh, honey, it’ll last.” Bjornolf gave her a look like he would show her just how much so, once they were back at the cottage. She swore he wasn’t playacting, either. And she had to admit his comment made her wish he wasn’t just playing a role. “Come on. I know Nathan’s upset about this, but we can return at daybreak and see if we can locate it then.”
She gave him another smile that said, “Right.” Then she looked at the man. “Your name is…?”
“Everton. The owner. Tell Nathan if he wants to make arrangements to have his kinfolk come look for something of his in the middle of the night to get permission first.”
“So… can we have permission?” she asked, trying to sound sweet and innocent.
“No. Come back in the morning when we’re open.”
She looked up at Bjornolf, slipped her arm around his waist, and said, “Guess we ought to go home to bed, then.”
“Exactly what I had in mind, honey.”
They turned to leave and had taken a couple of steps, when the man said in a surly, commanding way, “Wait!”
Bjornolf stiffened beside her, his eyes narrowing as they faced the man.
“I didn’t hear you calling Nathan’s name. If you were looking for him,” Everton said.
“She was. She has a soft voice,” Bjornolf growled as if he didn’t like that the man was questioning Anna’s story, and if they needed to take this to a physical level, he was game.
Anna loved him for it. She expected the man to ask why he didn’t hear Bjornolf calling out Nathan’s name and she stiffened a little.
“Anything else?” Bjornolf asked the question as though the man had better not pose another one.
Everton slid his gaze from Bjornolf to Anna, his expression irritated. He looked like he didn’t believe them. “Nah. Just don’t come back here again when we’re closed.”
Anna was dying to ask Everton why he was wandering around the property in the middle of the night. Bjornolf quickly said good night and escorted her off the farm.
She had to admit Bjornolf was good for a rescue. She was also glad they had their own vehicles at the Christmas tree farm. That way she didn’t have to hear his guff the whole drive back to the cottage about why she shouldn’t have gone alone tonight.
What she didn’t expect was for him to escort her through the parking lot, walk her all the way to her car, pull her into a hard embrace, and kiss her like they were newlyweds. Long and penetrating, hard and gentle, and every kind of delicious kiss in between. He finally released her and dragged in a breath of cold air. His heart was pounding furiously, his breath short, puffs of white vapor floating between them.
The kiss was nothing short of miraculous, full of feeling, and she wondered if he’d been worried that a bad guy might have taken her out. Any team member wouldn’t want to lose their partner, but his concern for her seemed like it was much more than that.
“Damn but you taste good, Anna,” he said softly, his eyes dark with feral need as he rubbed her arms. The heat sizzled through her blood beneath the jacket and sweater she wore.
“He better be watching us,” Anna warned in a whisper, but she didn’t mean it. She loved the way he kissed.
Bjornolf gave her a devilish smile and a quick kiss on her cold nose, his mouth hot against her skin. “Follow you home, honey.” He pulled her door open, and once she climbed in, he closed it for her. She waited for him to enter his own vehicle and start the engine before she drove off.
She hadn’t needed to wait for him, but something in the back of her mind nagged at her. Bjornolf had come to watch over her. What if someone tried to take him out and the only one who could save him was her? Not that they were in a jungle environment fighting drug-running terrorists here. But who knew what they were really up against?
Her lingering there had nothing to do with his kissing her, or pretending to be newlyweds if Everton was watching. Her duty as part of this new team was making sure Bjornolf had backup if he needed it, she told herself.
As his Land Rover followed her, she thought of the night she’d led him to the hotel where he’d finally tracked her down and gotten the best of her. She couldn’t help but look in her rearview mirror, watching his headlights and feeling a sense of déjà vu. Except that time, she’d thought he was an assassin. This time, he was on her team. Only it seemed as if he was looking for more than a temporary arrangement.
Yeah right, she scoffed. How much of that was her interest in him rather than his interest in her, and she was projecting what she wanted rather than what he truly desired?
Anna assumed that they’d talk as soon as she parked and Bjornolf followed her into the house. What she didn’t expect was that she’d wait for him to walk her to the door, even allowing him to take her hand as if they were wolves on a date.
What was wrong with her? With him?
They didn’t need to pretend to anyone here.
Bjornolf didn’t say a word, just held her hand possessively and escorted her to the porch. Then he unlocked the door and closed and locked it behind them.
“Did you want some cocoa?” he asked, as if he didn’t want the night to end.