Page 1 of Deserving Lara
CHAPTERONE
Callen “Owl” Kaufman ran a hand through his hair in frustration. It had been over three months since he, Stone, and Pipe had gone to Arizona to check into Cora’s missing friend Lara…and found more than they’d bargained for.
Yes, they’d found Lara Osler, but in the process of getting her away from her toxic boyfriend, they’d been drugged, held against their will, almost died at the hands of a serial killer, and had to steal a helicopter to get away from the estate where they’d found the woman.
If he hadn’t been so focused on protecting Lara in the chaos, Owl might’ve found himself sucked down into horrible memories of a time when he’d been held hostage himself, while in the Army. The difference this time was, he hadn’t been tortured. Wasn’t filmed for the terrorists’ sick pleasure. And his teammate Stone, who’d been captured and tortured as well, this time had been the hero of the day. He’d been the one to appropriate a chopper—owned by the rich asshole who’d convinced Lara to come to Arizona—and fly them to safety.
But that safety was an illusion.
He knew it.
His friends knew it.
And unfortunately, Lara Osler knew it as well.
Carter Grant was a serial killer who’d flown under everyone’s radar. He’d been working as a bodyguard for Lara’s ex, while kidnapping and torturing women right under everyone’s noses. He’d shot her boyfriend in the head and slipped away in the chaos of that awful day.
He was still out there.
And he wanted Lara.
Owl’s teeth clenched. He wasn’t going to touch her again. He’d promised Lara, as well as her best friend, Cora. Just thinking about what Lara had already gone through at the psycho’s hands was enough to make Owl’s skin crawl.
But he knew better than most that bad shit happened. All it took was one moment of inattention, and Lara could be snatched out from under their noses. She was terrified. And Owl didn’t blame her.
Since their escape from Arizona, she’d hunkered down at The Refuge as she tried to heal. Most people would say she wasn’t any better than she was all those weeks ago, but they’d be wrong. She’d actually come a long way since her rescue.
But she still had a ways to go. And Owl vowed to be there for her every step.
Cora thought her friend was still a shell of the woman she used to be, but Owl wasn’t so sure about that. Yes, outwardly, Lara was still skittish, didn’t talk much, and wasn’t terribly willing to leave his cabin. But when it was just the two of them, locked in his home, safe and warm, she was starting to open up…revealing a funny, considerate, and incredibly insightful woman.
And Owl was madly in love with her.
Nothing would come of any kind of relationship, and he knew it. Lara saw him as a protector. She’d clung to him since the moment they’d arrived at The Refuge. For weeks, anytime he’d left her line of sight, she’d panicked. Even in that basement in Arizona where they’d found her, despite her drugged haze, she’d latched onto him as her point of safety, and he hadn’t done anything to dissuade her of that notion.
She’d gotten better very recently. Much better. He could go up to the lodge and leave her in his cabin with Cora for a couple hours at a time without her having a panic attack. But if he was gone too long, she’d start shaking and her breathing would increase, prompting a call from Cora. Each time, Lara wasn’t able to calm down until she saw him again.
It broke Owl’s heart because he wanted her to take her confidence back. Her independence. And having her rely on him so completely wasn’t a good basis for any kind of romantic relationship.
But he’d do anything for Lara—even suppress his feelings. He’d be her friend. Her rock. Her protector for as long as she needed him. Then he’d let her go. Watch her leave and spread her wings and fly once again.
“Owl?”
Her soft, unsure voice had Owl shaking himself out of his tormented thoughts. He turned to see her standing in the doorway of the guest room. For the first two months, he’d slept in a chair next to her bed because she couldn’t bear to be alone. She’d recently been able to get through the night without waking up screaming, but every now and then, she still woke and needed reassurance that she wasn’t back there. Locked in a basement at the mercy of a madman.
“Hey, sweetheart. Bad dream?” he asked, immediately standing and going to her side. It was the middle of the night, and like usual, Owl’s insomnia was kicking his ass. He didn’t sleep well anymore. Hadn’t since he’d been a prisoner of war.
Lara shook her head as he approached. “No. But I woke up and got scared.”
“Come on,” Owl said, reaching for her hand.
He felt little sparks of electricity when she willingly took hold of his hand, just as he always did when they touched, but he kept his reaction hidden. The last thing she needed was to have to deal with an unwanted advance on top of everything else.
He led her to the couch where he’d been sitting and gently encouraged her to relax. He covered her with a blanket, then said, “Get comfy. I’ll be back with some hot chocolate.”
Owl could feel Lara’s gaze on him as he headed for the small kitchen. He wasn’t a gourmet cook, but he’d learned enough over the last few years of being a bachelor at The Refuge not to starve. Yes, he and his fellow co-owners could go up to the main lodge and eat every meal with the guests if they preferred. Robert was the best cook this side of the Mississippi as far as they were concerned, but as an introvert, Owl sometimes just wanted the peace and quiet of his own space.
He pulled down a large mug and hit the button on the electric kettle on his counter to start heating the water. He scooped dark hot chocolate mix into the mug, added a few marshmallows, and braced himself on the counter as he waited for the water to boil.
