Lucky Streak

She shook her head, dismissing the notion. “You didn’t meet the King. He’s not that swift.”

“He isn’t that stupid or he wouldn’t have tracked you as far as L.A. Be smart,” Mike warned her.

“Okay, but I don’t think it’s me you need to worry about. I’m sure Thomas is already fending off the press this morning.”

Mike nodded. “But Thomas can handle himself. At least he can when he isn’t dumbstruck by a woman,” he muttered. “I never thought I’d say this, but it’s a damn good thing Edward disconnected his telephone line.”

Amber nodded. “I know. Nobody can call and bother him. Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of him,” she promised.

He couldn’t stop the smile that pulled at his mouth. “I’ve seen you in action. I’m not worried about my father while you’re around to protect him.” Mike grinned, recalling Amber’s fierce expression when she’d forbidden his uncle Thomas from going near Clara Deveaux.

Her eyes lit up. “I think that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me.”

“Well, you earned it.” Before he could get all emotional, Mike cleared his throat. “Now, remind me of the rules we set up for once I’m gone.”

Amber folded her arms across her chest. “I’ll be fine. I know not to talk to strangers,” she said wryly, meaning the press, if they somehow showed up here.

“Okay, then.” Mike glanced at his watch. “I need to go, so humor me and recite the rules.”

She rolled her eyes. “Lay low. Don’t go outside unless it’s absolutely necessary. If it becomes necessary, don’t go out without looking out the windows first and make sure nobody’s lurking or watching the house,” she said, mimicking the instructions he’d given her more than once last night.

“Good. And if the press does show up?”

“Call the local police and then call you. You’ll make sure the cops take me seriously.” She exhaled a frustrated breath at being treated like a child.

“I’m a cop. That’s my job.” He leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her pouting lips before rising. “Be safe,” he told her.

She smiled. “You, too.”

He inclined his head. “I’ll call you,” he said and with a wave, he walked out the bedroom door.

AMBER REMAINED in bed long after Mike left with Jason.

I’m a cop. That’s my job, he’d said. The problem was, she wanted to be more to him than another person in need of protection. More than some poor woman he was helping so he could get her out of his life that much more quickly.

And despite how protective he was being now, she just couldn’t be sure his actions weren’t motivated by anything more than simply wanting to look after her. After all, she hadn’t missed the way he closed down whenever he remembered her Las Vegas past.

No matter how much she helped him or his family, she was beginning to doubt whether anything would be enough to overcome his feelings about her being a con and a cheat.

The rest of the day passed slowly, leaving Amber depressed, bored and feeling both useless and angry at herself for indulging in self-pity. She was a woman accustomed to being strong and working. A phone call to Paul earlier hadn’t helped her mood, either. He’d been forced to hire a part-time college student to replace Amber, something she understood, considering she’d left him in the lurch when she’d run from Vegas and King Bobby. And if that guilt wasn’t enough, Paul had reassured her that he’d been visiting her father daily in her place. She owed her friend more than she could ever repay.

She slept fitfully and when Monday morning dawned, the sky was as gray as Amber’s mood. She’d already cleaned and straightened as much of Edward’s house as he’d allow. Now she made herself busy wiping down the counters in the kitchen from the mess she’d created while making sandwiches for lunch. Amber stared out the window toward the lake, a place she’d come to love for its peace and serenity, elusive concepts where Edward Corwin was concerned.

Clara had shown up early this morning, refusing to leave at Edward’s demand. Instead, she’d followed him from chore to chore, telling him about her life over the past years. She’d left her only other employee tending the shop she loved, and she wanted Edward to help her look for new space for Crescent Moon. She said she planned to keep returning until Edward agreed.

“Good luck,” Amber said aloud.

But she admired Clara’s persistence in going after the man she wanted.

Unlike Amber, who was herself in limbo, unable to move forward the way she dreamed, or even live in the present with Mike. Until King Bobby’s threat was neutralized or one of Amber’s contacts called back with information on Marshall, she was stuck here.

Now a little stir-crazy, she was even tempted to help Clara find store space herself. According to the older woman, the press had invaded Stewart in search of Jason Corwin, disgraced Olympic hopeful, or looking for quotes from people in his family and his past. With so many strangers in town, she figured nobody would give her a second look.

MIKE WORKED the early shift Monday and returned to his apartment to find his cousin crashed out cold on the couch. As company, Mike didn’t mind Jason staying as long as he needed. But as a substitute for Amber, Jason Corwin came up short. Taking his cue from his cousin, Mike headed for bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.

He woke up the next morning to the loud sound of the TV blaring from the next room and immediately reassessed how he felt about his cousin’s visit.

Mike padded barefoot into the room, picked up the remote and hit the off button.

“Hey!” Jason grumbled, annoyed.

“Keep it down, will you?” Mike asked.

“Sorry,” the other man muttered as he leaned back against the sofa, hands locked behind his head.

“I know. Anything new?” Mike asked, realizing he’d overreacted. He was antsy without Amber here, something he hated to admit.

Jason shook his head. “Not in my life. I’m just waiting for the reporters to lose interest. According to my father, they’re out in full force. God knows what dirt they’ll dig up if they ask the right questions.” He rubbed his palms against his eyes.

Mike couldn’t imagine the pain his cousin must be feeling. “Everyone in town supports you. They aren’t going to give the press anything negative to print.”

“Except the Corwin curse,” Jason muttered.

“There is that,” Mike agreed.

Silence followed that pronouncement until Jason spoke first. “I feel awful leaving Dad to take the heat.” Jason ran a hand through his hair and rose from the couch. “I should just go back and face the music.”

Certain Jason wasn’t going anywhere, Mike sank into a chair. “I’d support that notion if your father wasn’t such a strong man. He can handle himself and you know that or you wouldn’t have gone into hiding in the first place. So just tell me one thing.”

Jason glanced over. “Name it.”

“Why aren’t you out there facing the press?” Jason was the risk-taking cousin. The rebel who didn’t give a damn what anyone thought. Or he had been.

“Because I want answers first. I need to know why the hell I tested positive. I have a hunch, but no proof. And since the Olympic committee is pretty strict when it comes to drugs, I don’t have a hope in hell of qualifying.” He slashed his hand through the air and sent a tall candlestick Mike’s mother had bought him onto the floor. “Oh, man, I’m sorry,” Jason said as he rushed to pick up the piece.

“Forget it.” Mike took the candlestick from his cousin’s hand and set it back on the table. “Look, anything you need, background checks of competitors, whatever, I’m here.”

Jason shot him a look of gratitude. “I know that. I just need time to process the fact that it’s probably over for me. And you need time with your new wife. Speaking of Amber…” He let out a wolf whistle. “She’s one hot babe.”

Mike bristled at the crass description. “Lay off,” he warned his cousin.

Jason merely laughed, which didn’t help Mike’s mood. “Since I’ve sworn off the opposite sex, you have nothing to worry about from me. All I’m doing is admiring my cousin’s taste in women. And from what I could see, the rest of the family agrees.” Jason slapped Mike on the back the way he used to when he and Mike were kids. “The only