Page 5 of The Fixer
He’d protected countless people before—politicians, diplomats, even celebrities. But Lyndsey Marrin was different. She was brilliant, fiery, and maddeningly independent. And against his better judgment, he felt a pull toward her that had nothing to do with duty.
“She’s just another assignment,” he muttered to himself, though the words rang hollow.
Because she wasn’t. Every glance, every word, every moment they shared was a reminder of how dangerous this mission really was—and not just because of the bullets. Jake vowed to himself to keep her safe, no matter the cost. Even if it meant protecting her from himself.
CHAPTER THREE
LYNDSEY
The cottage stood nestled among towering trees on the edge of Lake Huron, its stone walls weathered by time but sturdy against the elements. It wasn’t large, but its simplicity held a charm Lyndsey had always found comforting. The roof was steeply pitched, with a single stone chimney rising from one end. Ivy clung to the east wall, and a narrow path led from the front door to the pebble-strewn shore where the lake’s waves lapped gently.
Inside, the cottage was cozy, though not without its quirks. The living area featured a leatherChesterfield sofa she had always loved, a small fireplace, and a braided rug that Lyndsey remembered from her childhood. Wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, their dark finish contrasting with the pale plaster walls. To one side of the room was a modest kitchen with whitewashed cabinets and a butcher block counter, its small window offering a view of the forest behind the cottage.
The air inside carried the faint scent of wood, leather and stone, a reminder of the surrounding wilderness. Despite its rustic appearance, the cottage had been retrofitted with all the modern conveniences. The solar panels tucked discreetly within the cottage’s roof structure powered the essentials, and theinternet connection—though not blazing fast—was sufficient for Lyndsey’s needs.
But it was the alcove at the back of the cottage that truly mattered. The space had once been a storage nook, but Lyndsey had transformed it into a makeshift lab. The stone walls curved inward slightly, giving it a cozy yet functional feel. A sturdy metal workbench took up most of the space, its surface scattered with instruments, microscopes, and a sleek laptop. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with neatly labeled jars of chemicals, boxes of equipment, and notebooks filled with her calculations.
A single lamp with a flexible neck cast a pool of bright light over her workspace, creating a sharp contrast to the softer glow of the rest of the cottage. The equipment hummed faintly, a comforting sound that reminded her of the state-of-the-art labs she was used to. This wasn’t as sophisticated as her usual setups, but it was enough to keep her work moving forward.
Lyndsey stood in the doorway of the alcove, her gaze drifting across the carefully organized chaos. The lake had always been her sanctuary, and the cottage was supposed to be a safe haven. Yet even here, danger felt closer than ever.
She ran her fingers along the edge of the workbench, her mind cycling through the possibilities. If someone had gone to such lengths to track her down, even this remote refuge might not be enough. But as her eyes flicked to the small glass vials and rows of equipment, she was reminded that her work was worth the risk. It had to be.
Lyndsey sat at the workbench in the cottage’s small lab, the hum of her equipment the only sound. The soft glow of monitors bathed her face as she adjusted settings and made notes. The work was methodical, usually soothing—but not tonight.
Her focus wavered as Jake Sands moved through the cottage behind her, his every step calculated, deliberate. He didn’twalk like other men; he prowled, his movements smooth and predatory, a constant reminder of his lethal nature.
She glanced over her shoulder as he checked the locks on the front door for the third time that hour. “Are you going to wear grooves in the floor, or are you just trying to drive me insane?”
Jake didn’t look up. “Just making sure we’re secure.”
“We’ve been secure since we got here,” Lyndsey shot back. “If there was a threat, your fancy alarms would’ve told us by now.”
Jake finally turned, his eyes locking onto hers. “Complacency gets people killed.”
The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver down her spine, though she refused to show it. Instead, she turned back to her monitors, muttering under her breath, “And paranoia drives people crazy.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” she said quickly, biting her lip to keep from saying more.
Jake leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms over his broad chest. The casual pose only highlighted the strength coiled beneath the surface. “You’re not used to having someone watching your back, are you?”
“Not like this,” Lyndsey admitted, keeping her eyes on the screen in front of her. “I’ve always handled things myself. Having you hovering like some overprotective spectre is... different.”
“I’m not hovering,” Jake said, his voice tinged with amusement.
She turned in her chair to face him, raising an eyebrow. “You’ve checked the locks three times. If that’s not hovering, I don’t know what is.”
His lips twitched in what might have been the beginning of a smile. “Call it being thorough.”
“Call it overkill.”
Their gazes locked, the air between them charged. Lyndsey’s heart pounded, but she pushed the feeling aside, focusing on her work. “Since you’re so invested in what I’m doing, maybe you should at least try to understand it.”
Jake straightened, intrigued. “All right. Enlighten me.”
She gestured for him to come closer, her pulse quickening as he moved to stand beside her. His presence was overwhelming, the heat of his body a constant distraction.