and lunged, tackling the man low. The guy felt like he was made of metal. Cody heard a grunt and tree limbs breaking as they fell. The moon emerged. There was a whooshing sound, and the man disappeared. Cody spun around, but his opponent was gone. Alarm prickled up his spine. A stalker, and now this? Had the clan been wrong about Shay? He wouldn’t let anything harm her, not after he’d just gotten her back. He turned around and bumped into Shay.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I’m not staying inside. Let’s go after him, before he gets away,” she said.
“I didn’t see which way he went,” Cody said.
“He ran that way.” She pointed north.
“You saw him?” How was that possible, when he hadn’t? “You need to get inside.”
“No. I want to help.”
Cody took her arm and escorted her back to the house. They met Faelan coming around back.
“Nothing in the barn or behind it,” Faelan said.
“I saw him, but he got away. Shay said he went north.”
“Shay?” Faelan said, looking surprised.
***
“If the stalker was here, then who’s in jail?” Shay asked. Cody had a tight grip on her arm as he pulled her into the house.
“That would have been me. Faelan Connor, ma’am.”
Faelan was tall and muscular, with long, dark hair pulled back in a ribbon, exceptionally good-looking. Shay was used to being surrounded by tall, exceptionally good-looking men, but most of them weren’t in kilts, even when she lived in Scotland.
Cody turned to Faelan. “You were in jail?”
“Afraid so. Bad timing, and she definitely has a stalker. I’m not sure which variety, if you understand what I mean.”
“Did you get a look at him?” Cody asked.
“No. Police arrested me before I could go after him.”
“You didn’t smell him?” Cody asked.
Shay glanced from Faelan to Cody. Smell him?
“No,” Faelan said. “But there was definitely something in the shop with her. It ran out the back when I came in, and I glimpsed a shadow watching her earlier, but not enough to make out if it was a man or…” he trailed off, giving Cody a furtive look.
“It wasn’t a woman,” Shay said. “It was a man. He had big feet.” She glanced at Cody’s square-toed boots.
Cody turned to Faelan. “You tailed her wearing that?”
“Didn’t have time to change,” Faelan said.
“Keep an eye on Shay. I’m going to track him.”
“I’m not staying with him,” she said, looking at Faelan’s dagger.
Cody shook his head. “Then come with me.” He led her into her bedroom.
“What are we doing here? We need to help them.” Where had this bravery come from? Was it because Cody was with her?
“You can’t leave the room,” he said.
“We’re just going to wait here while they search? No. I’m going to help.” She turned to leave the room, but Cody stopped her.
“Damn it.” He touched his necklace. “Look out the window.”
Shay turned and opened the curtain. “What?” There was a whirring noise. Cody grabbed her wrist and slapped it to the headboard. Shay heard a click. He’d cuffed her hand to the bed. “What are you doing? Let me go!” She struggled, rattling the bed.
“Sorry, but I need you to stay put.”
“You bastard!” She tried to hit him, but Cody pulled her close, trapping her free arm.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, pressing his cheek to hers, “but I have to protect you.” He kissed her and left.
Shay yanked at the handcuffs as he locked the door and closed it behind him, but she hurt her arm, and she was afraid she would damage the bed. She could dismantle the headboard, but she wasn’t going to ruin an antique just to get free. She sat down, fuming, cursing, calling Cody every name she could conjure. She examined the handcuffs. She’d never seen any like them. They were etched with symbols and made of a strange metal she couldn’t identify, not quite silver or gold. They must be antique. After the adrenaline rush left and there was still no sign of Cody or the stalker, she grew tired. Her arm was burning again. She lay down, thinking of ways to kill Cody, and fell asleep.
***
Cody listened at the door. It was quiet inside. He had a moment of panic until he saw the door was still locked, and then another when he remembered how good she used to be at climbing out her window. He’d been gone for
