Guarding Raine Part 19

" My problem?

" she exclaimed incredulously. " The question is, what's yourproblem?

Do you have a control fetish, is that it?

Are you utterly incapable of following directions?

Or don't you understand English?

" He didn't respond, just leaned !~ack in his chair and studied herfrom beneath hooded lids. His composure shredded her own even further." I specifically said that you were to discuss your plans with mebefore you did anything," she said, seething. " And I told you that Iwanted to be the one to contact the students about staying away for awhile.

So will you please tell me why you felt it necessary to do ityourself?

" She smacked both hands against the desktop and turned away to pace afew steps. Then she whirled back. " What is it with you, anyway?

" Mac lazily watched her work herself into a full-blown lather. She'd had a pretty good start on it when she came storming in here. He'd expected this confrontation, though he hadn't especially looked forwardto it. But he did find it interesting. watching her. Her eyes wereglittering with fury and shooting gold-edged daggers at him. He swallowed a sigh. G.o.d save him from natural disasters and temperamental women. There wasn't a lot a person could do about thefirst, but he did his best to avoid the second. That's why, in hisleisure time, he always sought out simple, uncomplicated females. Theymight get upset over a broken nail, but they were d.a.m.n easy to distractfrom their disappointment. Raine Michaels was as far removed from those women as it was possible to be. Not only did she lack thevoluptuous curves he looked for in a companion, she was not, by anystretch of the imagination, uncomplicated. " Is that what has you allhot and bothered?

" he asked shortly. She took a deep breath. Screaming at him was notthe answer, and it wouldn't satisfy her, anyway. She'd like to take a punch at that hard jaw. She had a feeling she was far from the firstperson who'd had the urge. " Why did you leave the message at thecollege for the students to stay away from here?

I ordered you not to.

" His eyes narrowed at her choice of words. " I don't take orders verywell," he said in a deadly tone. She didn't flinch before the threat in his voice. Nor did she retreat. " Apparently not," she ground out.They glared into each other's eyes for several long moments. Neither blinked until the phone in front of Mac rang. He s.n.a.t.c.hed it up withmovements made jerky with irritation. " O'Neill," he snapped into thereceiver. After a moment he said, " You'll have to call back.

" He pushed the b.u.t.ton to end the call and fairly slammed the phone onthe desk. Her mouth firmed at the autocratic way he'd answered thecall. He hadn't identified her residence. It was as if he'd taken over the telephone wires to her house, too, and that only added to her anger. " Who was that?" she demanded. " Kla.s.sen." " Did you plan to restrict my calls, too?" she asked sarcastically. " Until we get this ironed out, yeah," he answered, his jaw clenching. " The only thing we have to iron out, isyour att.i.tude," she informed him. " You deliberately went against mywishes.

And it better never happen again.

" " You said you'd contact the students, but you haven't, have you?

" Her silence was all the answer he needed. " I wanted to talk to the

professors you mentioned, so it was easy enough for me to pa.s.s the

message on at the same time.

Apparently you didn't take me seriously when I told you why we needed to restrict your visitors.

If you can't see how stupid it is to allow any bozo on the street easyaccess to you while you're being threatened, you need your headexamined.

" " I'm not stupid!

" She hissed the words at him. " I just think you're overreacting!

I would have told the art students the next time they came out here,

although it does seem pointless'I know I'm not being threatened by one of them!

For heaven's sake, what possible motive would they have?

" " Take your pick," he replied tersely. " Anger, envy or just plain craziness.

Or it could be good, old-fashioned l.u.s.t.

" At her incredulous expression, he c.o.c.ked an eyebrow sardonically. "

Spurn any suitors lately, Raine?

" He watched her sputter in response to his words. " I haven't-- I

don't-There aren't-- You're nuts!

" she finally finished in frustration. " You are so far off base,Macauley!" " Mac." He bit out the word. " Call me Mac." She ignored him and went on. " Someone saw an exhibit, saw my name on the news Or picked me at random for this sick little game, but it isn't someone I know!

And it definitely isn't one of those poor students, who probably thinkI'm angry at them for some unknown reason, because I doubt you botheredsupplying them with a reasonable explanation!

" " It's done," he said dismissively. " And it won't be undone.

I was hired to protect you the best way I can, and I don't answer toyou, Raine, I answer to your father.

You're welcome to call and complain about me, but something tells me myactions would have his wholehearted approval.

" " If you think that commends them," she said scathingly, " thinkagain.

" " It doesn't matter.

While I'm in charge here, I'll do things my way, and if you don't likethe way I protect your delicate little tush, that's too d.a.m.n bad.

Maybe when this whole thing has been solved you'll be able to see thebigger picture.

" " The big pictureI see is of an arrogant jerk who thinks the term'security expert'synonymous with G.o.d!

" she shouted. " Urn, excuse me.

" A voice spoke from the doorway. " What?

" Mac and Raine snapped the question simultaneously. Sarah smiled,took one look at both their faces and said, " On second thought, Ithink I'll just leave you two alone a while longer.

Since you're getting along so well and all.

" She retreated, and Raine took a deep breath. No doubt their raised voices had reverberated through the house, even with the sound of thework being done there. " Look," Mac said, forcing his voice to a moreeven tone. " I'm not saying you have to turn into a hermit.

I'm just trying to limit your visitors to a small enough number that Ican do an adequate job of ensuring your safety.

" " I suppose I should be grateful that you've at least eliminated myclosest friends from your list of suspects," Raine replied caustically.Mac said nothing, just looked at her. Her eyes narrowed. " Don't tell me, let me guess.

You don't trust them, either.

" " I don't trust anyone," he said flatly. " And neither should you:At least not until this is over.

" Her anger began to ebb as she digested his words. They were easyenough to believe. He didn't trust anyone, and she'd been able to tellthat the moment she met him. It was in his guarded manner,expressionless eyes. What was more difficult to understand was whythat realization would make her heart ache, She'd wondered on occasionif he was capable of human emotion at all.

And then she would remember the sight of him pacing her small patio inthe middle of the night. Something rode this man, and that facta.s.sured her at least that he felt something. A man totally withoutconscience didn't have trouble sleeping at night. He was regarding herwith those startling blue eyes that re-yea led nothing of his thoughts.He must think she was the most difficult~ it client he'd ever had, andshe couldn't totally blame him. She knew how contradictory it seemed,her making him fight for every inch he gained in his efforts to protecther. She just didn't know how to explain the renewed fear she felt inthe process. It was as if each gain he made came at a cost to herhard-won battles against the terror of her past. Each concession sheallowed made the fear stronger, her defenses weaker. " I understandwhat you're trying to do," she said, looking away. Her voice wasalmost a whisper. " But, Macauley, I made a choice a long time ago notto let a lousy experience dictate how I live.

i tried it your way once, tried to go through life keeping people at a distance, to shield myself from possible hurt.

" She hesitated for a moment, then met his gaze squarely. " It nearly suffocated me.

I can't live that way.

It's not who I am.

And it wouldn't guarantee that I'd be totally safe, either.

There's always a possibility that some crazy who's going to tear my life in two is right around the corner.

And if that happens, what would I have gained by not allowing anyone to get close to me all those years?

" Something in her eyes caught his gaze, held it. She was an enigma,this woman, and he'd never much cared for enigmas. They always naggedat him until he'd figured them out. This wasn't the first time he'dwondered about her, about what made her tick, He already knew shewasn't a daddy's girl, content to live off her father's money until asuitable match came along to support her. And at times like these hewas unable to a.s.sume that she was little more than a slightly ditsyartist. She sounded wise beyond her years, even if he didn'tnecessarily agree with what she was saying. That ancient look was backin her eyes, the look that was a match for the darkness in his soul.And because it reminded him of things he'd much rather forget, hedeliberately turned away. The phone jangled then, and he answered it." Who is this?

" he asked bluntly. After a moment, he held the receiver out to her. "

Harold Bonzer," he said, a slightly questioning note in his voice.

She

s.n.a.t.c.hed the phone out of his hand. " h.e.l.lo, Harold," she said, hervoice warm. She walked away from Mac, talking softly.

He sat down in front of his desk, listening to the one-sidedconversation. He was able to discern that the man had something to dowith the art world. They were discussing Raine's paintings and theupcoming show. He didn't remember hearing the man's name before, hoveever It was impossible to tell from Raine's manner just what the manwas to her. Her voice was cordial, but she seemed to treat everyonewith the same warm manner. As a matter of fact, she usually behaved asthough she was the hostess at some d.a.m.n tea party--except, on a fewnotable occasions with him. His lips twisted in a sardonic littlesmile. He'd bet Raine Michaels had experienced a broader range ofemotions since he'd come into her life than she had in years, butsomehow he thought she wouldn't appreciate that fact. Her conversation with Harold over, Raine set the phone down on the desk in front of him." Who's Harold Bonzer?

" he asked. " He's been my benefactor," she replied. " I owe the success I'm enjoying largely to him.

I met Harold through Sarah, when he was sponsoring a show for her, andhe offered to take a look at my work.

" " He can't be the only reason you're successful.

" Mac surprised her, and himself, by saying it. He nodded toward her paintings on the wall. " You're good.

At least Trey seems to think so, and he knows a little about that sortof thing.

" " Thanks for the vote of confidence, but there are lots of starvingartists out there who are good," she observed wryly. " I'm luckyHarold took a liking to my work.

I don't think Andre would have been interested in me otherwise.

" " Just what does a benefactor do?

" he asked, leaning back in his desk chair. " Harold got me hooked upwith Andre.

Together they arranged a show for me at a local gallery.

" She shrugged. " Some of my things started to sell.

It helped that people knew Harold Bonzer was buying my paintingshimself.

He's a well-known name in the art world, and when he takes an interestin an artist, it usually helps launch a career.

" " What about Sarah Jennings?

Did he help launch her career, too?

" Raine nodded. " He's helped get her shown, and she's doing verywell.

She's had it kind of tough.