Bound to Them by Lorna Jean Roberts

the room in dismay.
    “Who is he, Crista? A boyfriend? A lover?” Quinn asked
harshly. Crista looked at him in shock. Even Nash was surprised by the jealousy
in the other man’s voice. Not that Nash didn’t feel it himself.
    Nash stared in disgust at the rose petals strewn throughout
the room. A bottle of champagne sat beside a heart-shaped box of chocolates on
the small dining table.
    “Where is he?” Nash snarled.
    “Long gone I hope.” Crista looked at him, her eyes glazed
with…fear? But that didn’t make sense, did it?
    “What do you mean?” he asked.
    Quinn glanced around, looking everywhere but at Crista. “You
need to tell him to lock up after himself. Anyone could have walked in here.”
He turned away.
    Nash grabbed his arm. Quinn glared at him, but he just shook
his head and nodded over at Crista.
    Quinn finally glanced at her.
    Crista didn’t look at all happy. In fact, she looked damned
terrified. Her face was pale, her eyes wide, full of fear. Her breath was
coming fast, in small, scared pants.
    “You think I wanted this to happen?” she cried, her arms
hugging her body.
    “Darlin’?” Nash asked, softening his voice. “Do you know who
did this?”
    She nodded and took a shuddering breath. Nash stepped slowly
closer. Now that he’d pushed the jealousy aside, he could see the way she
trembled, how she stood poised to flee.
    “Who did this, Crista?” Nash asked.
    “Andrew O’Ryan.”
    “And who is he, baby? How do you know him?” he asked.
    “He’s my ex-boyfriend. How did he find me? How did he get in
here?”
    Her terror had his stomach tied up in knots. “I don’t know,”
he said soothingly. “But Quinn and I are going to find out, okay? Has this
happened before?”
    She nodded. “This is the third time. I’m terrified that one
day he’ll be here, waiting for me. What am I going to do?”
    He caught her against him as she sagged. “Right now, you’re
not going to do anything. Let us handle this. I’m going to take you to my room
while Quinn calls the police.”
    “There’s no point,” she said woodenly. “They won’t take me
seriously. They’ll just laugh and say that most women would love to get flowers
and chocolates.”
    Nash stiffened. He flicked a glance over at Quinn, saw the
fury flare in his lover’s eyes.
    “The police here said that?” Quinn whispered coldly.
    She shook her head. “The first time this happened we were in
Geraldine. Small town, small-minded, ignorant deputy.”
    “Don’t worry, Crista.” Quinn stepped up to her and clasped
her chin. Leaning down, he kissed her. Nash’s already hard cock stiffened more
as he watched the intimate moment between them. Quinn leaned back. “They’ll
take this very seriously. I promise.”
    “Why won’t he leave me alone?” she whispered, her voice
almost lost. Nash tightened his hold on her.
    “He won’t get near you, I promise,” Nash told her, meaning
every word. “Come on, you’re shivering.” Picking her up, he carried her out the
door as Quinn reached for his cell phone.
    * * * * *
    Crista lay back against the bath and tried to relax. Yet
every time she closed her eyes, she saw Andrew’s face before her, twisted in hatred,
his hand coming toward her.
    She shuddered in fear. Her breath came quickly, her body
ready to run. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to calm herself. Crista bit
her lip, holding back her urge to cry. Crying didn’t help. She had to think.
Tired, she rubbed her forehead, a headache throbbing at her temples.
    She couldn’t run. No, she would not let him have that power
over her. Besides, where would she run to? Home wasn’t safe. He could obviously
find her anywhere.
    And why should she run, dammit? Why should she give up her
life because he was psycho? This would never end unless she stopped him, unless
she finally took a stand instead of hiding as if she were a child afraid of the
dark.
    “You okay in there?” Nash called.
    Crista quickly glanced at the door.