"I don't want me hurt, either, but I'm not going anywhere until I find Evan."
Her determined expression told him arguing was useless. Still, he had to try. "Damn it Maddie, be reasonable. This is my job. Let me do it without having to worry about you getting hurt—or getting in the way."
He rose from the bed and stepped towards her. Terror flashed through her eyes, and she backed away quickly. He stopped in surprise. It was almost as if she were afraid he was going to hit her.
The thought shook him. There had been women in his past who'd called him uncaring and arrogant, but usually they had wanted more from the relationship than he'd ever been prepared to give. But never had he been accused of violence towards a woman, not by word or deed.
There was no way for her to know this, of course. They were virtual strangers, brought together by unusual circumstances. But what had he done to make her fear he was one of those morons who lashed out?
He raised his hands and sat back down. After a minute, the tension seemed to leave her body, and a slight flush invaded her cheeks. It wasn't him she was frightened of, he realized. Her reaction had been automatic.
"You saw the arrow. You saw the damage it did. I was lucky, but you might not be."
She raised her chin slightly, as if denying the fear he could almost taste.
"I can take care of myself," she repeated softly.
A flicker ran through her eyes—an emotion too fast for him to identify. He frowned. With her clenched hands almost lost in the sleeves of her oversized sweater, she looked absurdly young. Yet her reactions—and her fear—told him she was no stranger to pain and death. He had no doubt that she could take care of herself under normal circumstances. But this situation was far from normal.
"You're a fool if you believe that," he said harshly, wincing inside even as he did so. "And I won't be held responsible for your safety."
She'd no doubt saved his life, and while he had no wish to hurt her, if she wouldn't listen to reason, he had little other choice. His job, and his life, made him a dangerous person to be around. Hell, wasn't that one of the major reasons he'd cut himself off from his family?
"Just keep out of my way. The last thing I need right now is an amateur detective screwing up the clues."
"I'll get in your way if I feel it's damn well necessary," she snapped back, then blushed again and took a deep breath.
Someone knocked at the door, and she glanced at her watch. "That's probably the late breakfast I ordered. Your clothes are dry and hidden under the towels in the bathroom. Why don't you take a much-needed shower and meet me in the living room?"
So, not only would he not be obeyed, but he also stunk. He suppressed a grin, liking the sudden hint of fire. She studied him a moment longer, gaze narrowing, then she spun and walked away, her flame red hair and white fluff sweater flouncing along with every movement. He shook his head and headed for the shower. It wasn't going to be easy to get rid of her, especially if she kept making him smile.
Maddie kicked the door shut and carried the large tray over to the table. The smell of bacon and eggs turned her stomach slightly, but she'd figured Jon was more a traditional type when it came to breakfast.
Just in case she was wrong, she'd ordered cereal, as well as a yogurt for herself.
Grabbing the yogurt and a spoon, she dragged out the nearest chair and sat down. How could she tell Jon about her visions of Evan and his captor without having him think her strange? Though that was something she should be well used to. So many times in the past she'd been called weird, or worse, when the trancelike state of the dreams hit her.
Her dad had even hauled her through dozens of psychiatrist's offices in the vague hope they'd cure her
'illness'.
She grimaced. Fat lot of good it had done him or her.
She scooped up some yogurt and stared at the small fire she'd lit in the hearth earlier. It was hard to judge how Jon would react, because it was hard to put him in one particular type of box. In the brief time she'd known him he'd been caring and gentle and funny, and yet he had switched so easily to being an ungrateful bastard.
Would he think her a freak, as Brian had? Probably. It was a thought that scared her more than it should have.
And yet, he'd somehow appeared in her home, asking for help and warning her about Evan. She wasn't sure if it was astral travel, some form of telepathy, or something else entirely—and in the end, it didn't really matter. If he could do that, then surely he would understand when she explained about the visions.
He walked into the room several minutes later, and she almost choked on her yogurt. How could any man manage to walk when his jeans were so tight? Not that she was complaining… there was nothing nicer than a set of well-defined thighs in tight jeans. Except, maybe, a well-defined rear, and, to her disappointment, his shirttails covered that.
He glanced at her, a hint of a smile dancing across his lips and touching the bright depths of his eyes.
Heat invaded her cheeks again. Good lord, I really do hope he can't read my thoughts.
She quickly averted her gaze and took another spoonful of yogurt, only looking up after he sat down.
"I gather most of this is for me," he said in amusement.
"Wasn't sure what you'd want, so I ordered a mix."
He nodded, sending shimmers of gold running through his damp hair. Maddie watched him reach for the plate of bacon and eggs, and she smiled. Right the first time. The smell wafted across the table, and she wrinkled her nose.
"I gather from your expression you don't like bacon."
She glanced up. From the way he arched his eyebrow, she gathered she'd scored another point against herself. Not that it matters. He doesn't have to like me to help me find Evan. "No. I had a pet pig when I was a kid that became a family meal when it was big enough. Haven't been able to eat pork since."
"Ah, I see."
She wondered if he did. His easygoing manner told her he'd never wanted for friendship—that he'd never been forced to find companionship from a pet because he couldn't find it anywhere else.
"I noticed an incense burner on the mantle," he said. "Would you like me to light it?"
She nodded, surprised he'd even noticed the burner, let alone offer to light it, especially given his earlier hostility.
He walked to the mantle, and she resisted the temptation to watch him, only looking up when he sat back down. He placed the burner between them and flashed her a smile that made her heart do an odd flip-flop.
She obviously needed to sleep. She had to be exhausted if a simple smile sent her over the edge. She glanced away from the warmth of his gaze and found herself staring instead at his long, strong hands. For the first time since she'd first met him, she noticed he was wearing a ring. She was oddly relieved to see it was on his right hand, not his left.
Maybe she should get another room. Being confined with this man for any length of time was not a good idea. Especially if he keeps wearing those damn jeans.
She ran the spoon around the edge of the container, collecting the last of the yogurt. The small candle flickered and danced, and the smell of incense wafted towards her. She put the empty container on the table and sniffed the fragrance.
The pit of her stomach suddenly fell. Citrus smoke—the same sweet smell that had been in Evan's room.
Darkness swept around her. She gripped the edge of the table fiercely, fighting the desire to follow wherever the dream might lead. Please, don't let this happen to me now. Why couldn't it hit when she was alone? As much as she wanted to find Evan, she didn't want Jon to see her trapped in a vision.
"Maddie? Are you okay?"
No, I'm not! Can't you see that? I've never been all right.But she couldn't speak as the darkness encased her, sweeping her along for the ride…