She nodded slowly before standing straight again. “Time to go to work, stud,” she said softly, her voice filled with amusement. “You can play later.”
“Sounds good to me,” he chuckled as he released her. “I’m heading to the guesthouse with Callan and Taber this morning. Lawrence has proposed an idea that could work to get the houses we need in place faster, combining both our ideas,” he said, more than a little amused. “Lawrence Industries has a small construction sideline headed by one of his most trusted friends. He’s willing to provide the materials at a cut-rate cost as well as technical assistance in training our men to build what they need themselves,” he told her. “We have enough land here to make them self-sufficient to a degree, and I still feel that’s the best way to go.”
Sherra sighed in resignation. Unfortunately, she agreed with him, but they needed buildings now, not months down the road. Perhaps this could be the solution to it.
“Let me know how it goes.” She finally nodded in agreement. “I have to do another inventory check today. Somehow the count on the rifles Merc insisted we buy is off by one. I have to figure out if it’s our mistake or the supplier’s. I hate it when weapons are off, Kane. It makes me paranoid.”
“No kidding. Let me know what you find out. We’ve not had any non-secured personnel other than the Lawrences, and security on them has been too tight to allow for a theft that far away from their guesthouse, but we need it solved.” He grimaced as he pulled on a light jacket over his dark blue cotton shirt. “I’ll get hold of you later and see if we can’t meet for a little…uhh, lunch.” He wagged his eyebrows at her as he grinned wickedly. “Later, kitten.” He kissed her lightly on the forehead before leaving the room and heading down the hallway.
Sherra stood still, aware of the silly little smile on her face as Kane left. There had been no choice left last night but to trust him, to give him everything blooming within her. Not just the hunger for his cock, but the hunger for his touch, his smile, his laughter. A chance to heal.
“Damn man. I can’t understand him, and Merinus won’t let me kill him,” she drawled in amusement as she shook her head and moved for the door. She might as well just give in and love him, she finally told herself as she headed to her own room. And why wait to begin moving into the life he was offering her?
* * * * *
“Sherra?” The little voice and the soft knock at her door had Sherra stiffening in reaction as she recognized Cassie’s voice.
The door opened slowly and the little girl peeked in. Her face was somber, her long dark hair laying in thick curls down her back as she stepped into the bedroom.
“Who’s watching you today, Cassie?” Sherra asked curiously.
“I don’t know, Sherra.” The little girl was confused. “I woke up and no one was there. Someone is always there when I wake up.”
Sherra stared at the little girl with a frown. Cassie still wore her gown and robe and clutched her teddy
bear like a lifeline.
“I’m scared, Sherra,” she whispered. “My fairy said to come up here. She seems kinda worried.” The little girl moved closer as though in need of comfort or protection. Sherra grabbed her communications link from the dresser and pulled it on over her head as she switched it to the main channel. She knew Taber, Callan, Kane and Dawn were with the Lawrences, but they wouldn’t have left the little girl without a guard.
“Who has house duty?” she snapped into the link.
No one answered.
“Cassie, did you see anyone when you came up here?” Sherra asked her quietly, moving to the French doors and peeking past the curtains to the yard outside.
“No.” Cassie was holding her teddy bear closer now. “I didn’t see anyone, Sherra.”
“Do you know how to hide, Cassie?” Sherra asked her, feeling the familiar rise of danger edging up her spine.
Cassie’s eyes widened in sudden fear. Her lower lip trembled. “I want my momma,” she suddenly whispered, a breath of sound that showed the little girl knew well the dangers that could be moving outside their room. “Momma doesn’t leave me alone.”
Shit. No one was moving outside. Where the hell were the guards?
“Okay.” Sherra turned back to the little girl. “Do you know how to be quiet? No matter what?”
Cassie nodded fiercely.
“I want you to stay right behind me, Cassie. And don’t say a word. Don’t make a sound unless I tell you to. We’re going to go to Merinus’ room. Okay?”
Cassie nodded quickly.
Moving to the door, Sherra pulled the gun free of her holster and peeked out carefully. All the doors were closed, the guard normally on duty at the end of the hall absent. Damn. Damn. She glanced behind her at the kid. She was pale, trembling and moving with damned near every shift of Sherra’s body.
“Okay, nice and quiet,” Sherra whispered as she eased the door open. She stepped out into the hallway, checked it quickly then pulled Cassie from the bedroom and moved stealthily for the second wing of the upstairs bedrooms where Callan and Merinus’ suite was located. Pausing at the turn in the hall, she flattened Cassie against the wall then checked it as well. No one. Fuck. Where the hell were they?
Moving carefully down the carpeted hall, her senses razor-sharp, she moved for Merinus’ room. She was no more than three doors from it when the new scent slammed into her head. Alien. Foreign. Waiting
on them.