Roped In (Armed & Dangerous, #2)(10)

“Good,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Do you want me to bring her in and introduce her? I have to get back to the airport.”

“Might as well,” I grumbled.

Logan marched out of the kitchen and to the car. The second Hadley stepped out and I saw her face, I knew I was in trouble.





Hadley

“What took you so long? You had me worried,” I said.

Logan shut the door and grabbed my bag out of the back. “Sorry about that. It took longer than I thought.”

“Is everything okay?”

Shouldering my bag, he sighed, looking down at me with troubled blue eyes. “You’re not in California anymore, Hadley. Things are different here. You’re going to have to adapt to this lifestyle so you fit in. People are going to look at you and think they see Hadley, but you’re not her anymore. Understand?”

I nodded. “I know. My name is Anna Sawyer and I’m a twenty-five-year-old real estate agent from North Carolina. Blake Evans is my stepbrother and I’m visiting because I just got divorced from my husband and I needed to get as far away from home as I could.” I paused and took a deep breath. “I took drama in high school. I’m pretty sure I can pull it off.”

He smiled. “Good. I think you’re all set. I put your ID’s and an untraceable cell phone in your bag, along with my number. You can call me anytime.”

I followed him to the front door and stepped inside. The house had a warm feel to it, all western-like, with deer and buffalo heads on the wall. It was just like being on the set of a cowboy movie. I half expected John Wayne to mosey around the corner at any minute.

I gazed around in awe. “This is amazing.”

“So it meets your standards?” an abrasive voice called out.

Gasping, I jerked around and found the owner of the voice glaring at me. For a second I lost my ability to speak. His brown hair was damp with sweat and he was covered in streaks of dirt on his tanned, bare chest. He was gorgeous; except for the scowl on his face. Why was he looking at me like that? Surely that wasn’t Blake.

Huffing, Logan put his arm protectively around my shoulder, speaking through clenched teeth. “Hadley, I’d like you to meet dickface. Crap, I’m sorry . . . I meant Blake. I got a little confused there.” Body tense, Blake rolled his eyes and my stomach dropped. He did not want me there. “Blake, this is Hadley,” Logan continued, squeezing my shoulder. “She’ll be your guest for the next few weeks.”

Blake pointed to the stairs. “Your room is up there, first door on the left. I don’t have servants, so if you want something, get it yourself.”

I held up my hands. “I don’t have servants.” Unfortunately, he’d already turned on his heel and stalked away. Huffing, I glared up at Logan. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me here. Why is he acting like that?”

He set my bag down. “Want the truth?” I nodded. “Basically, he thinks you’re going to be an uppity cunt. What he doesn’t know is that you’re actually a down to earth person. He’ll come around once he gets to know you.”

“Why can’t I stay with you? You can keep me safe.”

“I would if I could, but I’m leaving for another mission as soon as I leave here. You’ll be fine. You’re a strong-willed woman.” Leaning in close, he whispered in my ear. “Just don’t take shit from him. Show Blake you can handle this and he’ll turn around.”

As much as I wanted to believe I could, I doubted myself. I didn’t belong here and it was evident. “Okay,” I whispered, “I can do this.”

Logan led me upstairs to my room and set my bag on the bed. The room was all white and elegant, clearly a female’s room. It was beautiful; definitely a contrast to the masculinity downstairs.

“I have to go now. Remember, you can call me anytime.”

My eyes burned, but I refused to cry. All I wanted was to be back at home and have Scott still alive. Maybe that was why I liked Logan so much; he reminded me of a younger version of him. Opening my arms, I rushed over to him, wrapping them around his neck. “Thank you for watching over me. Be safe on your mission.”

He squeezed me tight and let go. “I will. If I need to come back and kick shitdick’s ass, just let me know.”

The thought made me smile. I wished he would preemptively do it. Maybe then, Blake wouldn’t be such a prick. “You’ve got it.”

Turning on his heel, his footsteps echoed off the wooden stairs, and all too quickly, he was out the front door. I didn’t watch him leave because I knew I’d be tempted to chase after him and jump in the car. If Blake didn’t want me there, why did he agree to let me stay in the first place?

The house was quiet, but there was a noise coming from the back. Logan told me not to take any shit and I wasn’t planning on it. Blake was going to talk to me, even if I had to force it out of him. Finding my way through the huge house, I stormed outside. With his back to me and a hammer in his hands, Blake crouched low to the ground, pounding nails into a wooden fence. His muscles flexed with each strike, but I was too pissed off to even notice how sexy his body was. Who am I kidding? I noticed the first time I saw him.

“Dammit,” I hissed low. I couldn’t be thinking about him like that. He was an ass, end of story.