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"They

"They didn’t argue and "

"Thanks," Tessa said "But I don’t expect you to chase off all the idiot hunters in the area and risk the you accidentally"

"They’re too close to your--" As soon as they ca wide open He felt Tessa cru his hold on her, he knew she wouldn’t have left the house unlocked The intruder was once again warning theo as he pleased Maybe not such a beta after all

Rourke’s chill-bitten cheeks instantly lost their red color "I saw you lock the door"

"Soave her a reassuring squeeze, but until he could eli he did would alleviate her concern and for good reason The stalker was a real danger

Rourke rubbed his gloved hands "Who?"

"We don’t know Ashton et firewood from the beach," she said

"Ashton?" Rourke asked

"No," Hunter said, not wanting Tessa to fear the wrong man "Someone else Wait here with Tessa I’ll check out the place first"

Tessa looked like she had a million questions to ask Hunter, but with Rourke here, the inquisition would have to wait Hunter stalked inside,Rourke and Tessa’s conversation as he checked the rooms

"Why didn’t you tell me about this?" Rourke asked Tessa on the porch, sheltered from the sleet and wind

"Hunter was here He can take care of it"

"Hunter was here all night?" Rourke asked, his tone not hiding his surprise or irritation

Hunter couldn’t help s Tessa hadn’t meant to let it slip Good to let Rourke know he had no chance with her

"Good thing that he was"

Glad she felt he was an asset despite the fact he hadn’t gotten rid of the stalker, Hunter smelled the bastard’s scent where he had rolled on Tessa’s sheets again Hunter growled low

"And the as boarding up?" Rourke asked Tessa

"The intruder broke it"

"Hell, Tessa, you should never have said you were going to locate the killer and clear Michael’s name"

Headed back down the hall, Hunter stopped in his footsteps, not believing Tessa would say that to a reporter Then again, he could, as angry as he iined she’d been

"Did you print the interview?" she asked, her voice accusing

"Da tiuilty of the cri to worry about If I had thought differently, I would never have printed that story"

Hunter wanted to kill the reporter

"All clear," Hunter said, rejoining theave both Tessa and Rourke a hard look "Looks like nothing’s been disturbed" At least as far as he would let Tessa know for now The gray had returned to find out where Hunter had slept for the night and returned to mark his claim to Tessa Sorry to disappoint him "What’s this about an interview?"

Tessa swore Hunter had the hearing of a cat, although she had hoped he hadn’t heard what Rourke revealed about the interview "I was angry" Not that she felt she had any need to explain the way she felt to Hunter

Did he re more about his past? She knew Grey wasn’t his real name Not if the way he had shaken his head at her earlier was any indication of the truth of the o away soon so she could ask Hunter what else he had recalled and why he was so certain the intruder wasn’t Ashton

A shiver crawled up her spine She felt she could deal with knowing it was Ashton, but if it was a total stranger… No, it had to be so who

Rourke pulled off his wet coat and handed it to Tessa "I’ for dinner"

Her uy had been an on-again/off-again boyfriend in her youth He decided things for her, which were not in her best interests She meant to remind hiood Why don’t you stay the night, too?"

Tessa glared at Hunter Of all the da look, Hunter continued, "The roads are too slick You et very much farther down the road and be in the saot injured, ouldn’t be able to forgive ourselves"

Her ht But whose house was it anyway? Shouldn’t she have a say?