“I have a question. What made you become a stuntwoman?”

  “I’ve always been adventurous and wanted to do something outside of the box. At first, I wanted to be an actress. Tried that for a couple of years while living in LA, and quickly got bored. Then a casting director, who knew about my martial arts experience, approached me about being the body double for Zoe Saldana. I literally jumped at the opportunity and ten years later, I’m still at it.”

  Hamilton didn’t speak, only watched her intently.

  “Lately, I’ve been thinking of trying something different. Something less dangerous and not so physically draining.”

  “Like what?”

  Dakota shrugged. “Not sure. There aren’t many other careers that provide the excitement and adrenaline rush I get from stunt work. I also want to get married and have a family,” she said, wanting to get a rise out of him. He didn’t bite, and she continued. “Crashing through glass doors and leaping off buildings while pregnant probably wouldn’t work.”

  “Yeah, I could see that being a problem.”

  “Do you think you could marry someone who risked their life on a daily basis?”

  Hamilton placed his elbow on the table and wiped his hand slowly over his mouth. “I think when I meet the right person and fall in love, it won’t matter what she does for a living.”

  “Does that mean you do want to get married?”

  Hamilton laughed. “Yeah, one day.” He told her that he’d been engaged to Dominic’s mother, but things hadn’t worked out. Dakota sensed there was more to the story, but it seemed to be another topic he didn’t want to discuss—yet.

  They lobbed questions and responses back and forth for the next half hour, talking and laughing like old friends. It had been a long time since she had enjoyed a man’s company as much as she was enjoying his.

  “When we get married, how—”

  “You know what? I’m done with the questions.” Hamilton chuckled. “Maybe you should go to bed—alone—and I’ll clean up the kitchen.” He stood and started clearing the table, and Dakota joined him.

  “I don’t think I’m ready to close my eyes. I’ll take care of the kitchen. I might not be a good cook, but I’m a beast at cleaning.”

  “Want something to drink?” Hamilton asked.

  “Only if it’s stronger than orange juice.”

  “How about brandy?” He pulled a small bottle from the top shelf of the pantry and poured the dark liquid into a glass for her and made himself a cup of coffee. While she worked in the kitchen, Hamilton retrieved the television remote from the living room. She glanced up from rinsing dishes and loading the dishwasher periodically as he flipped through channels.

  A photo of Sonny appeared on the screen and Dakota gasped. Hamilton stood and turned up the volume as he moved closer to her.

  According to authorities, a man was killed during a drive-by shooting on Peachtree St. Sonny Jackson, age 34, known in the neighborhood as a street captain with the 4-1 gang. A woman was also killed. Her identity has not yet been released. Authorities are viewing these actions as a murder-for-hire with Mr. Jackson as the target. We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.

  “Oh. My. God.” Dakota’s hands shook. She didn’t realize she was still holding a ceramic bowl until Hamilton removed it from her hands and placed it in the sink. “I don’t understand. There was no one else in the hallway but Sonny and me. Who—”

  “Calm down. Let me call Laz and find out what’s going on. Come on and have a seat.”

  She didn’t move, she couldn’t move. Her mind raced a mile a minute. Had there been someone else there she hadn’t seen? Or did the media think she was dead?

  Hamilton wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her away from the sink and over to the sofa. Once she was seated, he handed her the glass of brandy she had been nursing and then went back to the dining area where he’d left his phone.

  “Laz, what the hell’s going on, man?” he asked seconds later. “We just saw the news report.”

  Dakota set her glass on the table and watched as Hamilton paced the room. She couldn’t hear what Laz was saying on the other end of the call, but by the scowl on Hamilton’s face, it wasn’t good. A short while later, he pocketed the phone and grabbed the bottle of brandy.

  “So?” she asked, her pulse pounding loudly in her ears. Hamilton added more of the dark liquid to her glass.

  “You and Sonny were the only ones in the hallway, but according to one of Laz’s CIs, they—”

  “CI?” Dakota questioned.

  “Confidential informant. Word on the street is that the hit was definitely for Sonny. He’d stolen some money from the crew and…well, you weren’t the target.”

  “But why did the reporter say two people were killed?”

  “Laz leaked that to a reporter. They still haven’t found the car, but his CI has been running his mouth about Sonny having company when he got smoked. And if that’s the word on the street, Laz wanted to make sure that those involved, not think that there was someone out there who could ID them.”

  Dakota shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. Someone’s going to know that there was only one dead body on the scene.”

  Hamilton cracked a slight smile. “You don’t know Laz. He’s one of the best detectives on the force, and he has a lot of friends in high and low places. If anyone can make a dead body appear out of thin air, it’s him.”

  Dakota stood and paced in front of the coffee table. “I don’t like it. I—I just don’t want this to come back on me in any way. What if someone saw me? What if someone figures out that I was in the hallway with Sonny at the time of the shooting?”

  She gasped and her heart dropped at another thought, and her hand flew to her chest.

  “Hamilton, there are cameras in the hallways.”

  “When the cops reviewed the footage, all they saw was blackness. Seems the cameras weren’t working during that time.”

  Dakota stared at him, trying to read into what he wasn’t saying with the nonchalant way he spoke to her. That couldn’t be true. Management took security very seriously. She found it hard to believe that the cameras suddenly stopped working.

  Hamilton stood. “Dakota, we all were very careful with how we handled the situation after the shooting. You’re safe. Laz made sure that they questioned everyone on the first floor who was home. If anyone saw them going into your apartment, they wouldn’t have thought anything of it. They would have assumed that you were being questioned just like everyone else. I assure you, Laz hasn’t and won’t include your name in any of his reports.”

  “But…” Dakota couldn’t wrap her brain around that. Would he lie on an official report?

  She resumed her nervous pacing. Would it be so bad if it was made to look as if she hadn’t been in the hallway? God, she hoped all of this wouldn’t come back to bite them in the ass. So far Hamilton hadn’t steered her wrong, and with Laz’s swag, no doubt he was a badass. She just didn’t like the idea of being a part of any deception, especially where the law was concerned.

  “Try to get some rest,” Hamilton said. He kept his distance, but the concern in his eyes couldn’t be missed. They had been having a great evening and despite the events at the apartment, she’d been able to laugh and forget, if only for a little while. Now, he was back to being professional and sounding all businesslike, and she was too exhausted to argue that fact.

  “I need to call Ty,” she said. “If she hears about what happened at the apartment, I don’t want her to think that the body…I don’t want her to think it was me.” Dakota swallowed and stared at Hamilton. She wanted so bad for him to pull her into his arms and make her feel like this was all going to work out, but he didn’t. Instead, he moved to the kitchen and reached into the pantry for something.

  “Here’s the thing.” His voice was muffled until he stepped out of the pantry with a phone. “You can use this burner phone, but you can’t give your roommate any details about you and Sonny being in the hallway.”

  Dakota frowned at him. “Why not?”

  “As far as anyone is concerned, you weren’t there. You were in your apartment and heard something but didn’t know what happened until the cops knocked on your door.”

  “You want me to lie?”

  “I want you to not volunteer any information and evade any questions that might put you at the scene.”

  “Hamilton…I—I can’t.”

  Now he stood in front of her, the burner phone in one hand, and his other cupping her chin. They were only inches apart.

  “My number-one goal right now is to keep you safe. I can’t do that without your cooperation. Remember, whoever did the shooting is still out there. Until they are caught, we’re going to take every precaution.”

  She pushed down the conflicting emotions building in her chest. Why’d he have to remind her? Would she ever be able to go back to her normal life?

  As if reading her mind, he said, “You’re going to get through this and I’ll be with you for as long as necessary to ensure your safety.”

  She nodded and accepted the cell phone.

  “Go ahead and make your call. I’ll give you some privacy while you talk to your friend.”

  Dakota watched him walk to the back of the house before she called Tymico.

  “Hello?”

  “Ty, it’s me.”

  “Dakota! Oh my God. Where are you?”

  “Ty—”

  “I heard there was a shooting at the complex. Two people are dead. Sonny was one of them,” she said, her words flying through the telephone line faster than Dakota could think. She couldn’t get a word in.

  “I’ve been calling you ever since I heard.”

  “How—”

  “I’m not going to lie. I thought it was you who they found with Sonny. You know how he’s always cornering you in the hallway. I was afraid that—”

  “Ty,” Dakota interrupted, but her friend kept talking. “Ty!”

  “What? Why are you yelling?”

  “Because you won’t let me get a word in.”

  “Oh, sorry. Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I just wanted to call in case you heard about the shooting. How did you find out anyway?”

  “Girl, Sabrina called a couple of hours ago,” she said of their friend who lived on the second floor. “She stopped by our apartment but didn’t get an answer. That’s when I started calling you.”

  “Oh. Well, if you talk to her, tell her I’m fine.”

  “You don’t sound fine. Are you sure you’re okay? Do you want me to fly home? And why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

  “I’m with Hamilton.”

  “Who? Hamil… Wait. What?” she screamed, excitement ringing in her voice. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been worried sick about you and you’re off on a romantic rendezvous.” Ty paused regaining her composure. “Tell me every detail. How? When? Last I heard, you were waiting for him to bring you your jacket. What happened when… You know what? Just tell me everything and don’t leave out a single detail!”

  “Ty,” Dakota dragged out her friend’s nickname. “I’m so tired, I can barely think straight. Can we talk tomorrow? I only called tonight because…” She wasn’t sure what to say but figured it would be best to stay as close to the truth as possible. “I realized I had left my phone at the apartment and I didn’t want you worrying. I just want to go to bed.”

  Her friend laughed. “Yeah, I bet you do. If that guy is as hot as you described, I’m surprised you even thought to call me.”

  Dakota said nothing. She wished the night had been as juicy as her friend assumed, but then she recalled the kiss. Now that was something to talk about. Throughout the evening, Dakota was more convinced than ever that she and Hamilton were a good fit.

  “Dee, your dad heard about the shooting. When he couldn’t reach you, he called me to see if we were okay. You should call him.”

  Dakota sighed, exhaustion settling in deeper. She didn’t want to talk to him, knowing he’d have even more questions than Tymico. He would also insist on her moving in with him at the big house, the large estate he owned in Sandy Springs that she grew up in. The last place she wanted to be.

  Once she finished talking to Tymico, Dakota slammed back the remaining drops of brandy lingering in her glass, then called her father. She braced herself for the questions that were bound to come. Here goes.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Dad.”

  “Dee Dee! Where the hell are you?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning, Dakota slowly opened her eyes but didn’t move her head which pounded like a jackhammer hard at work inside her skull. She couldn’t remember climbing into bed, but she had tossed and turned for most of the night, unable to shut down her brain. At least she didn’t dream about Sonny, but thoughts of him, the detectives, and Hamilton wouldn’t let her rest.

  Dakota moved her head slightly toward the window, a sliver of sunlight filtered through the side of the closed blinds. It was morning…or maybe it was afternoon. She didn’t much care. All she wanted was to go back to sleep, but her bladder screamed for her to get up.

  Instead, she closed her eyes and played the conversation with her father the night before over and over in her mind. He’d been livid that she hadn’t thought enough of him to call and let him know she was okay. She gave him the same phony story she told Tymico, leaving out the part about Hamilton. Saying that she was hanging out with a friend didn’t go over any better. He wanted her under his roof where, according to him, she’d be safe.

  All thoughts of her father and sleep slipped away when Dakota inhaled. The intoxicating scent of strong coffee swirled around her, and then she heard a sound near the door. Slowly, she glanced that way.

  Hamilton.

  He stood, leaning against the doorjamb, holding a steaming cup of coffee. God, she could kiss him. Not because he looked downright sexy in the white T-shirt that stretched across his wide muscular chest and jeans that revealed thick thighs. No, it was the coffee that really had her attention. How’d he know she never started her day without at least one, two, or four cups of coffee?

  “You are truly a sight for tired eyes.” She sat up slowly, wincing at the pain the simple act evoked. Popping a few ibuprofens and soaking in a warm, steamy bath rose to the top of her priority list; right after she drank her coffee.

  A sexy smile graced his lips and he strolled toward her, his dimples twinkling. He handed her the cup and sat on the edge of the bed. “Rough night?”

  Dakota didn’t speak until after a few sips of strong brew. “How’d you know I take my coffee black?”

  He shrugged. “According to you, we’re perfect for each other. Since I like my coffee strong and black, I assumed you did, too.”

  She grinned at him over the rim of the mug. “You assumed right, Mr. Crosby.”

  “How’d you sleep? Or did you sleep?”

  “A little, but what I really could use is something for this pounding headache.”

  Hamilton nodded toward the table next to the bed, and she spotted a bottle of water and ibuprofen. “Considering how much you drank after speaking to your father, I figured you’d probably need those this morning.”

  “I can’t believe you’re not married. You are truly a godsend. I don’t know if I could’ve gotten through last night without you. Thank you.”

  “No problem. Glad I was there.”

  “We didn’t discuss this yesterday, but how do you get paid for the services you’ve providing me?”

  He leaned his arms back, propping himself up with his palms flat on the bed. Dakota started to move her legs, but she liked having him close. She had stayed up with him, falling asleep on the sofa. Since she couldn’t remember climbing into bed, she assumed he had carried her.

  “This situation is a little unusual. As of right now, there’s no charge.”

  “You’re doing this pro bono?”

  “Something like that. No need to worry about how I’ll be paid. Hopefully, we’ll get an all-clear from Laz today and you’ll be able to go back to your life.”

  Dakota didn’t miss the way his appreciative gaze was taking her in. She could only imagine how awful she must look, but the desire radiating in his eyes said otherwise. Then again, he had already seen her at her worst, covered in blood. This morning was probably an improvement. “Any new developments?”

  “Nothing new, but I’m glad you weren’t the target. Now, we need to make sure that once you leave here, it’ll be safe for you to return home.” He stood. “Are you hungry?”

  “A little, but I think I’m going to lay here a while longer. You’re welcome to join me.” She patted the other side of the bed and tried to keep her voice serious, but her lips twitched, fighting a smile.

  Hamilton laughed. “You don’t quit, do you?”

  “Nope. Not when I really want something.”

  He released a long breath. “It’s tempting, Dakota. Damn tempting, but I need to stay focused, alert while we’re here. That’ll be hard to do if you…if we…are in a compromising position.”

  “Or positions,” she added, and he shook his head grinning.

  “Unfortunately, I have to pass. Try to get some more sleep. You had a long day yesterday.”

  “I could sleep better if you’re lying beside me,” she said, giving it one more shot as he moved closer to the door. He chuckled again but didn’t stop. “Oh well, I tried.”

  *

  The moment Hamilton stepped out of Dakota’s room, he released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Even when she wasn’t feeling her best, she was still one of the most desirable women he’d ever met. He loved her fire, her sense of humor, and her resiliency. She was everything he hadn’t known he wanted.

  Too bad the timing is all wrong.

  He pushed away from the wall and headed to the bedroom he’d slept in—or at least tried to sleep in. Staying up most of the night, keeping an eye on her just in case she had another bad dream, denied him much needed rest. Normally, with only four hours of sleep, he was good. But right now, he could use a little shut-eye.

 

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