GUARDIAN OF HER HEART
CLAIRE ADELE
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
Desert Edge, Texas
“What the hell?”
Mike Wolfson stared at the end of the block where Melissa Haven’s blue van had been stopped by another vehicle. Three guys in dark clothing ran from a black sedan and dragged Melissa from her car. Her dark hair whipped around her face.
Rage exploded inside Mike. He slammed the gas pedal of his Jag, hit the brakes behind the attackers, and skidded to a stop. “Let her go,” he shouted.
Fury and fear for Melissa raced through Mike at her frantic protests. How dare they treat her like that? The feral hunter within threatened to escape. Mike ran the short distance between them. He forced down the urge to shift to his werewolf form, the violent urge to kill her attackers. That would shock Melissa more than being assaulted by these hoods. He couldn’t keep the killing instinct or the claws from forming.
With a few lightning-swift kicks and slashing chops to their heads, he convinced the thugs to release her and sent them running to their vehicle.
His claws disappeared. He forced the animalistic urge down. “Are you all right?” He grasped Melissa’s shoulders.
“Yes…I’m all right.” She sounded out of breath. “Just a little shook up.” She combed her fingers through her hair. “One of those men is the father of a young boy at the Haven. The boy’s mother sought refuge there for both her son and herself.”
“Nice guy.” Mike looked her over for cuts. Her beautiful face was clear. The delicate flesh of her slender neck showed red marks left by one of those idiots’ clutching hands. Her full breasts rose beneath her light blue shirt with each gasp of her breath.
He wanted to hug her close, cup her breasts, and bring one nipple to his mouth. He wanted to kiss her, protect her, make her his for all time. The beast inside him needed controlling.
It was past time to tell her he cared for her more than anyone he’d ever known. She was his sole life mate. His to love and protect, though he’d never told her. He’d known for years but had kept it to himself.
“He’s already found the shelter and given me and the security guard an earful today,” Melissa continued. “The mother said her son’s father, her ex-husband, had beaten her and threatened to take their son away from her.”
Mike put a protective arm around Melissa’s shoulders. She fit him perfectly, and he gathered her close.
At the sound of Desert Edge Investigations partners Juan Enriquez and Derek Wolfson burning rubber as they sped after the gang members, Mike glanced their way. His friend and cousin had been following him home from their business office for a beer. He’d check with them later.
He’d better warn her. “Melissa, those three thugs are members of a south side gang. They’re suspected of robbing neighborhood stores and, worse, trafficking in slavery and prostitution of women and possibly children.”
She looked up at him. Her full lips gasped open. “Oh, how horrible for those poor people.” Her voice shook. “I was lucky tonight. Thanks for being here when I needed help.”
Mike felt her slender body tremble. He wanted to comfort her. Be by her side forever. Her scent of lilacs and warm woman surrounded him, filling him. “I’ll follow you home if you feel like driving. If not, I’ll have Juan and Derek come back and get your van later.”
“No, I can drive, but I’d appreciate you coming with me.”
After helping his longtime friend into her car, Mike drove behind her to her nearby home. He pulled up in the driveway and escorted her inside. Tonight, he needed to tell her, somehow, that he wanted to take care of her and stay by her side from now on.
“Will you have something to eat? I planned to bake some frozen lasagna.”
He met her clear, blue-eyed gaze. “Sounds great.”
“Good. I’ll put it in the oven.”
His boot heels sharp on the wooden floor between area rugs, Mike crossed the
CLAIRE ADELE
Copyright © 2011
Chapter One
Desert Edge, Texas
“What the hell?”
Mike Wolfson stared at the end of the block where Melissa Haven’s blue van had been stopped by another vehicle. Three guys in dark clothing ran from a black sedan and dragged Melissa from her car. Her dark hair whipped around her face.
Rage exploded inside Mike. He slammed the gas pedal of his Jag, hit the brakes behind the attackers, and skidded to a stop. “Let her go,” he shouted.
Fury and fear for Melissa raced through Mike at her frantic protests. How dare they treat her like that? The feral hunter within threatened to escape. Mike ran the short distance between them. He forced down the urge to shift to his werewolf form, the violent urge to kill her attackers. That would shock Melissa more than being assaulted by these hoods. He couldn’t keep the killing instinct or the claws from forming.
With a few lightning-swift kicks and slashing chops to their heads, he convinced the thugs to release her and sent them running to their vehicle.
His claws disappeared. He forced the animalistic urge down. “Are you all right?” He grasped Melissa’s shoulders.
“Yes…I’m all right.” She sounded out of breath. “Just a little shook up.” She combed her fingers through her hair. “One of those men is the father of a young boy at the Haven. The boy’s mother sought refuge there for both her son and herself.”
“Nice guy.” Mike looked her over for cuts. Her beautiful face was clear. The delicate flesh of her slender neck showed red marks left by one of those idiots’ clutching hands. Her full breasts rose beneath her light blue shirt with each gasp of her breath.
He wanted to hug her close, cup her breasts, and bring one nipple to his mouth. He wanted to kiss her, protect her, make her his for all time. The beast inside him needed controlling.
It was past time to tell her he cared for her more than anyone he’d ever known. She was his sole life mate. His to love and protect, though he’d never told her. He’d known for years but had kept it to himself.
“He’s already found the shelter and given me and the security guard an earful today,” Melissa continued. “The mother said her son’s father, her ex-husband, had beaten her and threatened to take their son away from her.”
Mike put a protective arm around Melissa’s shoulders. She fit him perfectly, and he gathered her close.
At the sound of Desert Edge Investigations partners Juan Enriquez and Derek Wolfson burning rubber as they sped after the gang members, Mike glanced their way. His friend and cousin had been following him home from their business office for a beer. He’d check with them later.
He’d better warn her. “Melissa, those three thugs are members of a south side gang. They’re suspected of robbing neighborhood stores and, worse, trafficking in slavery and prostitution of women and possibly children.”
She looked up at him. Her full lips gasped open. “Oh, how horrible for those poor people.” Her voice shook. “I was lucky tonight. Thanks for being here when I needed help.”
Mike felt her slender body tremble. He wanted to comfort her. Be by her side forever. Her scent of lilacs and warm woman surrounded him, filling him. “I’ll follow you home if you feel like driving. If not, I’ll have Juan and Derek come back and get your van later.”
“No, I can drive, but I’d appreciate you coming with me.”
After helping his longtime friend into her car, Mike drove behind her to her nearby home. He pulled up in the driveway and escorted her inside. Tonight, he needed to tell her, somehow, that he wanted to take care of her and stay by her side from now on.
“Will you have something to eat? I planned to bake some frozen lasagna.”
He met her clear, blue-eyed gaze. “Sounds great.”
“Good. I’ll put it in the oven.”
His boot heels sharp on the wooden floor between area rugs, Mike crossed the
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