Marie Harte - Whispered Words

Jack pierced Nathan with a stare that still unnerved him, no matter how many times he’d seen it. “Work with the others on this. I’m putting you on as lead. I need a full-out profile on this stalker asshole before she comes back.” Under his breath, he added, “Before I let her come back.”

“No problem. I’ll work with Ian on victim profiling, and maybe James on IDing the guy.” He paused. “Still no precog on our perp?” Jack shook his head. “Avery can’t get a bead on him. I fucking know this guy is psychic. But what are the odds he’s out here in Bend with the rest of us? Is he PWP or not? I need a fucking name.” Jack growled. “Get me answers, Nathan.” Nathan left the room with one task on his mind. To find the son of a bitch before he could even think about hurting Chloe again. That in mind, he sought out Ian and got to work.

Chloe blinked into sunlight. Bits of dust floated through the hazy rays and settled over the thick comforter cocooning her in warmth.

“Finally. I thought something might be wrong with you.” Her trip to the cabin came back to her in startling clarity, and she stared at one of the twins, Josh or Xavier, she couldn’t tell which, sitting in a chair in the corner. He stood and crossed over to her.

The man had short black hair, brown eyes, and a square jaw. He wore jeans and a dark sweater, the same as what both men had been wearing when she’d happened upon them.

“To be honest, I was surprised you fell asleep this morning. I was sure you’d have taken off.”

She’d planned to. But the cold had gotten to her, and she’d pulled the covers over her, just to offer some respite from the low temperature while she made her plans to escape. Then she’d gotten dizzy and must have passed out. She didn’t remember much more than clutching the covers and inhaling the strong, soothing scent of man and soap on the pillow.

She wanted to kick herself for being stupid enough to fall asleep, unarmed , near strangers.

But to her confusion, the terror she should have felt at being nearly naked and vulnerable to these men didn’t appear. She’d been in dangerous situations. She knew what crazy felt like. Hell, Psycho Stan had scared the hell out of her. But this guy? She couldn’t feel anything but her heart beating like crazy because she wanted him to touch her. God, I am so messed up. Who the hell thinks about sex in danger?

And hell, there are two of them to lust over . Two sexy, large, handsome men she’d have to manipulate in order to go free. Her nipples beaded, and she stifled another shiver.

On a sigh, she asked, “Which one are you?”

“Does it matter?” He quirked a smile.

Charmed despite her intent to remain wary, she smiled back. “Xavier?”

“Good guess.” He tucked his hands into his front pockets. “So are you working for Werlin or not?”

“Not. I have too much on my plate to start working for someone else. My boss is enough of a headache.” Oh hell. She hadn’t phoned in yet. “What time is it?”

“Three. Why? Got a hot date?”

“Smart-ass.” She rubbed her eyes. “I don’t suppose you can get me my radio?”

“No.” He didn’t seem the least bit sorry. “But you can use our transmitter.

Smart of you to bring that instead of a cell phone. Cell reception is iffy at best up here, and with the storm, it’s gone.”

She thought about sitting up, but the cold air across her shoulders made her shiver. So she lay there, under his stare, feeling way too vulnerable. “Can you leave so I can dress?”

“Nope.”

She frowned. He smiled back. The jerk.

He’d thrown a gauntlet she had no intention of refusing, despite wanting nothing more than to burrow under the covers until the snow thawed in another couple of months. Being nearly naked in front of a man this hot made her want to puke, but she’d be damned if she’d let him see he’d rattled her. She cleared her throat. “Fine. Not like you haven’t already seen me nearly naked.”

“I’d rather see you totally naked. But I’ll settle for nearly.” He didn’t move.

Frustrated and embarrassed, yet not nearly as annoyed as she should be, she refused to concede he had the upper hand. Chloe tossed the covers back and hurried to her feet. “Bathroom?” She hugged herself and tried to pretend she wasn’t standing in her panties and bra in front of a stranger.

He nodded to his left, his gaze absorbing her from head to toe.

She raced in and took care of business, not surprised to see her toothbrush and other personal items laid out on the counter. It seemed the Cannons intended she stay for a while. She shrugged. It wasn’t like she had anywhere better to go. As she took a quick shower to clean the grime off her from her hike, she mused on her new circumstances.

She still couldn’t believe she’d fallen asleep after all the excitement earlier.

Not sure she could exactly trust them, she had to admit if they’d wanted, she’d be dead by now. Instead they’d let her sleep the day away, warm and snug in their bed.

A tingle of lust lit her from within, the thought of her and the Cannon twins, together , racing through her mind. How many times had she wondered how Rory felt, sandwiched between her buddies Keegan and James? A threesome—her secret fantasy—but not one she’d ever considered might play out. She was too aggressive, too short, too curvy, too everything for most men. Yet she hadn’t imagined their interest earlier. That kiss… Holy crap, Xavier knew how to use his mouth.

The brothers had an odd connection with that telepathy, but how deep and what that meant to her, she couldn’t tell. Not yet. She’d figured on using her time away from the others to center herself, yes, and perhaps prod her stalker out of hiding. Since her boss and friends still hadn’t made heads or tails of what had happened in that warehouse last week, they were all going on the assumption her stalker was alive and well. Yet what to make of the Cannons and their questions about Werlin?

She needed answers. Her stomach rumbled. Make that answers and something to eat.

After finishing in the bathroom, she wrapped a towel around herself and exited to an empty bedroom. A change of her clothing waited for her on the bed. She wanted to chalk up the pile as thoughtful on behalf of the Cannons, but she knew it to be a nosy examination of her things.

She dressed in a hurry and made due with jeans, wool socks, and a thick sweater. The chill in the air grew warmer when she entered the living room. A fire blazed in the hearth, and the aroma of something delicious filled the air.

“Evening, Chloe.” Xavier, or Josh, nodded at her. They both wore the same clothes. On purpose? To keep her off balance? One of them stood by the pot on the stove, the other hovered in the kitchen, just standing there.

She raised a brow at the one standing nearest her, asking without asking.

“I’m Josh.”

He seemed quieter, more sedate. But damn if she could tell the difference between him and his twin from just looking at them.

“Right. Josh. I need to contact my boss before he worries.”

“First you eat. Then you get the phone.”

She studied him. “Why do I get the feeling Xavier’s the troublemaker, but that you’re a lot harder to deal with?”

“You must be psychic,” Xavier said wryly from behind her.

“About that…” She looked from one brother to the other, trying to detect the subtle nuances setting them apart. They looked exactly alike, down to the parts in their hair, their height, and the expressions of humor, annoyance, and interest they wore. “You two are telepaths, right?”