Lover Uncloaked (Stealth Guardians #1) by Tina Folsom

watching, and they want to harm you. That’s why I was sent.”
    Why would anybody want to hurt her? She had no enemies. She treated people politely, she paid her bills and her taxes, and she donated to charities. Didn’t she have enough to worry about with her parents? She just wanted to be left alone with her research.
    Instinctively, she pressed her hand over the pendant she carried in her pocket. It was still there, still safe. Whatever had burned in her apartment could be replaced. The item in her pocket could not.
    “Looks like you’re doing a bang-up job,” she said, unable to keep the sarcasm from her voice. Since she’d met him, she’d been nearly run over by a car, and her apartment had gone up in flames. Maybe he was the one who brought danger with him. Maybe it followed him .
    “I suppose this kitten has claws,” he answered.
    “I’m no kitten. I’m a respected resear—”
    “I know everything about you, Dr. Cruickshank. There’s no need to inform me.” His voice was suddenly tight.
    So, Dr. Cruickshank it was now? After watching her pleasure herself—God, what a horrifying and at the same time shockingly exciting thought—and kissing her, he found it necessary to be formal. Fine. She could be that way too. It was better that way. As long as she could keep him at a distance, she might get out of this unscathed.
    “What kind of danger am I in, Mr. Stealth Guardian ?”
    She noticed him shift his gaze away from her, a clear indication that he neither liked her question nor the way she addressed him.
    “The kind that gets people killed.”
    She trembled involuntarily. “I can take the truth.”
     “Are you sure?” he asked. “Because there’s somebody out there who wants a piece of you.”
    She shivered slightly, the predatory glare in his eyes indicating that he wanted a piece of her. And truth be told, in this instance she wasn’t sure whether she would have the willpower to resist him if he took what he wanted. Her throat was suddenly dry as sandpaper. She swallowed quickly, taking in an extra breath of air. Her nostrils filled with his male scent, a scent so potent it would have made her knees buckle if she weren’t already sitting. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of showing him the effect he had on her.
    “I have a right to know.”
    Aiden gave her a long look. “I suppose you do.”
    Then he studied the area outside as if he could see through the darkness that engulfed them in the dark alley. His hand went to the ignition. “It’s not safe here.”
    A moment later, the engine roared back to life.
    “I’m not going anywhere with you if you don’t—”
    Her protest died when the swift acceleration of the sports car pressed her back into the seat. With a clear disregard for any rules of traffic, he merged onto the next street.
    “You—”
    He shot her a look that didn’t bode well for her immediate future. “You’ll get your answers when we’ve reached our destination.”
    She could only hope that their destination wasn’t far, because she wasn’t sure how long she could keep her tongue in check while her so-called rescuer behaved like a caveman. It riled her up to no end, making her want to fight him when she’d never been one for confrontation. But this was different. This oaf was trying to take over her life. Without even telling her why. It was unacceptable.
    Whatever this stupid threat was, she was sure that the police could take care of it. As soon as she found out from him what it was, she’d ditch him and go to the police. Then they could handle whatever the problem was, and she could go back to her well-ordered life and continue with her research. This unpleasant interlude would become merely a faint memory as long as she didn’t dwell on it.

ELEVEN
     
    Aiden didn’t say another word until they arrived at their destination a few minutes later. He locked her in the car while he secured a room at a run down two-story motel in one of the shabbier