Free Razor's Edge by Shannon K. Butcher Page B

adrenaline.
    Jake’s letters and the mystery box were in her backseat, and all she wanted was for Tanner to leave so she could open it and reassure herself that the crazy ramblings of her attacker were just that.
    Burn everything. They’re coming.
    Roxanne tried not to think about Jake’s strange missive. It had to be some kind of prank he was playing—something they’d both laugh about when he came home for a visit.
    She wasn’t laughing now. She was too keyed up, too off balance, and all she wanted was some time alone to process everything.
    â€œThanks for your help today,” she told Tanner. “You saved my life. I owe you.”
    â€œLet’s hope that’s one favor you never have to repay.”
    He got out of the car and stood there, expectantly.
    She left the garage door open for Tanner to leave. “I’ll meet you tomorrow at the office. Is nine good for you?”
    He crossed his thick arms over his chest and gave her a disbelieving stare. “If you think I’m going to leave you after what happened tonight, you’re as crazy as your attacker.”
    â€œYou can’t stay here.”
    â€œThe hell I can’t. I’ll sleep propped against your front door if I have to, but there’s no way in hell I’m leaving you alone.”
    â€œI’m armed. I’ll be fine. Besides, he was crazy. All that stuff about my stealing something was garbage.”
    â€œAnd the note from your boyfriend, Jake? Was that garbage, too?”
    â€œHe’s not my boyfriend, and Jake is probably just playing some kind of joke on me.”
    â€œIs he the kind of asshole that scares women for fun?”
    â€œNo. Of course not.”
    â€œThen I don’t see how this could be funny to anyone.” He rubbed his hand over his short hair and pulled in a deep breath as if trying to control his frustration. “Listen, until we find out what’s going on, I think it would be safer if you had company. I promise not to try anything skeezy.”
    For some reason, hearing him say that amused her. “Skeezy?”
    â€œYou know, coming on to you, trying to accidentally see you naked in the shower—that kind of thing.”
    â€œIt sounds like you’ve put a lot of thought into exactly what you’re not going to do.”
    Tanner grinned. “Sue me for having a healthy imagination. But I can be a good boy. I swear.”
    Roxanne was too tired to argue. He was probably as hungry as she was, and he had been a huge help today even before he saved her life. “Fine.”
    His grin widened to a triumphant smile that made Roxanne’s stomach do a slow, lazy roll. “Let me grab my bag from my car and I’ll be right in.”
    â€œAre you telling me that you already packed a bag before coming here?”
    Tanner shrugged. “Bella said to be ready for a few days of nonstop duty, so I am.”
    â€œBella and I are going to have a talk when she’s back in town. Not even my boss gets to dictate who spends the night at my house.”
    â€œShe cares about you. And she probably figured that if you really didn’t want me around, you could handle getting rid of me.”
    After seeing the speed and power with which he moved earlier tonight, she wasn’t so sure. While she could generally handle herself in most situations, she knew better than to overestimate her combat abilities. She was good compared to an average person, but Tanner was way above average.
    Badass special operations babysitter, indeed.
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    Nelson Bower was in trouble—the kind that could cost him his life. Everything his men did was his responsibility, and one of them had fucked up. Big-time.
    He knocked on Dr. Stynger’s door, knowing she’d still be awake, in spite of the late hour. He wasn’t sure how she did it, but the woman slept only two or three hours a night on the nights she slept at all.
    â€œCome,” she