Stormy Haven. Elizabeth Goddard

now. Ian ducked behind a car. Jonna ran toward him as if she would crouch next to him. “Ian!”

      But she wouldn’t make it.

      “Jonna, get down!” Ian dashed toward her and shoved her to the ground. A bullet grazed over his back, shredding his coat. He covered her body with his—an instinctive reaction. He hoped she understood. “It’s not safe. Whoever this guy is, he fired a couple of shots using a silencer. You didn’t hear them?”

      “Not over the surf, no.” Her breaths still came fast—she was like a frightened bird beneath him. She could definitely handle herself, but someone had targeted her tonight. Again. That was enough to rattle anyone. Ian’s protectiveness kicked in, and this had nothing at all to do with the job his uncle had hired him to do. He felt personally compelled to keep her safe.

      You can do this, Ian. You’ve got the skills. I trust you to protect someone special to me. Uncle Gil’s vote of confidence rang in his ears now. Ian realized this assignment might have had something to do with building Ian’s confidence again to begin with, but today, everything had changed.

      Jonna’s life was in danger. Ian was back in the line of fire. Would he be enough to protect her?

      “You can get off me now, Ian.”

      “What?” He peered down into her gorgeous eyes and stunning features. Not what he needed to be thinking about.

      “I’m safe now. You can stop covering me.”

      He shook off the daze. “Right. But let’s stay down in case he hasn’t gone.”

      “I don’t want him to get away.” She tried to free herself from Ian’s protective cover. “Let’s go after him.”

      Ian refused to release her. Not yet. “I’m not getting up unless you promise me you’re not going to follow him. It’s dark and dangerous. It’s too risky. Our only option now is to call the sheriff again and tell him the guy returned for you.” Looked like she was a deliberate target after all, and not necessarily a random victim on the beach earlier. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

      “What? You want me to have the sheriff come out here and wake my guests? They’re not in trouble. I am. Besides, the sheriff won’t be looking for him tonight either.”

      “Promise me.”

      Jonna jabbed him in the solar plexus and pushed him off. Ian groaned. He grabbed her arm. “You’re not going to chase him.”

      She stiffly nodded her agreement and he slowly removed himself from protecting her. “You shouldn’t stay in your cabin tonight. It’s too exposed. Move into one of your guest rooms.”

      “I’m booked.”

      “You can take my room. I’ll stay in the cabin.”

      She shook her head. “I won’t put you at risk.”

      “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Just for tonight, I’ll sleep on the couch in my suite.”

      Jonna hung her head. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

      “We can talk about it inside,” Ian said. “Let’s get you out of harm’s way.”

      “I’m sure the guy is long gone by now.” She crouched behind a vehicle as if uncertain of her words.

      “We can’t be sure.” He peered into the woods.

      “We can be sure of one thing,” she said. “He wants to kill me.”

      Unfortunately, he agreed. He wanted to go search for the man and end this, but Jonna would insist on coming too. He wouldn’t be in a good position to protect her if that were the case. “How about it, then? I’ll watch your back tonight and sleep on the sofa.”

      “I don’t know what to say.”

      “How about yes?” Still wary of the dark woods across the street, Ian climbed to his feet, weapon at the ready. “Besides, it’s almost morning.”

      After the day they’d had, Ian suspected that daylight wouldn’t chase the bad guys away, and Jonna would remain in danger.