Page 57 of Shephard

“Because it was very obvious you have talents that would be useful with the ongoing situation. Now the case isn’t in my control any longer and that pisses me off. The Feds don’t give a shit like I do.” My tone was far too venomous, which of course he noted.

He sighed. “I don’t know how I can help you other than tossing ideas around, Denise. But you won’t because it would be unethical in your mind and you are a rule player. I don’t know shit about you, but what I do know is that you have integrity and you take your job seriously. I’m here in this town to do this job for a year and then I’m out of here.”

“I’m not who I once was. That was beaten out of me.”

Shephard rubbed his jaw and I was still thrown by his utterly gorgeous appearance. I hated when he gave me the silent treatment.

“Plus. My gut tells me you’re one of the most highly trained men I’ll ever meet. And my guess is you know every horrible monster in the world.” Maybe I was tossing out cookie crumbs hoping to attract the danger junkie inside of him.

It took one to recognize one.

His sigh was way too heavy and full of guilt. “I’m not a good guy.”

“Neither am I.”

At least that got me a smile. “Then we’ll see.”

“Fair enough. I am curious though. Why are you here in Danger Falls?” I might as well try to get all the personal information out of him I could. I had a feeling the well would dry up soon enough. I was certain he wasn’t going to answer. Back to square one. “Fine. Don’t bother talking to me.”

“Did anyone ever tell you how impatient you are? Because my father is ill. He was going to sell the place out from under my brothers and me if we didn’t agree to run it. I’m not happy about being here as my family and I don’t get along under the best of circumstances, but I have no real choice.”

“You need the money or is it family obligation?”

His eyes lit up and he pulled his glass closer to his succulent lips. “I definitely don’t need the money. I do love my mother and she’s hurting. I won’t allow that to continue.”

“Maybe you’re not such a bad guy after all.” I could tell he was well off. I couldn’t care less about money any more than he did, but he had me curious. His truck had seen better days like mine, although I’d consider it a tank. I would take a bet monetary things meant nothing to him.

“Yeah, your first instincts were right, lady. What I’ve done in my life, the things I’ve seen and experienced ripped any concept of goodness away from me.”

“Maybe not. You saved my life. If you’re such a bad guy, why did you bother?”

There was something entirely different about the look in his eyes tonight. I wasn’t used to seeing anything but an icy glance intohis blackened soul. But I suddenly realized that he’d purposely painted himself using ebony because he believed his actions warranted a horrific label.

I felt differently even if the spirited girl who’d sparred with him had insisted otherwise. I’d never been shy, including around a man. Even after what my ex had done. At this moment, I’d never felt so awkward and I was hiding behind my glass of whiskey. As if liquor was going to turn this into something other than what it was.

Carnal need.

“Because your life is definitely worth saving.” His deep voice held more than just a seductive tone. It was possessive, enthralled, and exciting in all the wrong ways. The man and this connection weren’t good for me, but I wasn’t certain either one of us cared about that.

I brushed my hand across the bottom of his beard, even tangling my fingers into the coarse mass before tickling his upper lip by toying with his mustache. “You know. You would look even hotter without the fur.”

“I thought you liked furry creatures.”

“Yes, but I also adore seeing chiseled faces and high cheekbones. You are a sexy guy after all.”

“I’ve had the beard and mustache for years.”

“A disguise. You can be anybody you want.”

He chuckled. “Something like that.”

Somehow, I knew it was true. He was hiding his true self, not just from the people he’d been forced to deal with, but from even himself.

He cupped the side of my face, pulling me onto my toes. The woman I’d allowed myself to become, sheltered and still partially shell shocked, was finally opening up. This could be nothing but a lingering nightmare, but for some insane reason, I trusted the man. It wasn’t just about him saving my life, but about the care he’d taken in doing so, the fear that I was hurt.

“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I whispered. Our lips were dangerously close.

“Maybe not. You need to decide if you’re going to follow your ancient rules or not.”