The Battling McGuire Boys

“Is that what you’re thinking? That I’ve been following you? Stalking you? You’re the one who came to me, Scarlett. The one who needed me, and I helped you, no questions asked.”

He had. He’d been there when she needed a friend most. But … he wasn’t a friend.

He’d always been more.

He leaned nearer. Their bodies brushed. Their mouths were so close. The anger that had been between them was changing. Shifting. Becoming something else entirely.

“I knew for years …” His words were a rumble. “Knew I should stay away from you. If I ever got close again, I understood what would happen.”

She didn’t understand. “What would happen?”

His eyes were on her mouth. “This.”

He lowered his head more, closed that last bit of precious distance between them and kissed her.

There were a million reasons why she should back away from him right then.

But her hands just rose up and curled around his shoulders to hold him tightly.

Confessions

New York Times Bestselling Author

Cynthia Eden

www.millsandboon.co.uk

CYNTHIA EDEN, a New York Times bestselling author, writes tales of romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Her books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, and she has received a RITA^® Award nomination for best romantic suspense novel. Cynthia lives in the Deep South, loves horror movies and has an addiction to chocolate. More information about Cynthia may be found at cynthiaeden.com, or you can follow her on Twitter, @cynthiaeden.

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Contents

Cover

Introduction

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

“You’re...leaving?” Scarlett Stone stared up at the man before her, aware that her heart was aching. Not aching...breaking.

“I have a new mission,” Grant McGuire told her, his deep voice strangely devoid of its usual warmth. “I head out tomorrow and I don’t know when I’ll be back.” The setting sun glinted off his blond hair. Grant... Tall, handsome, perfect Grant.

She’d graduated high school a few months ago. College awaited her. These days were supposed to be the start of a great new life. A new life she’d wanted to spend with him.

Grant was four years older than she was. Popular, confident, strong. He’d been in the army for the past few years, but he’d come to see her. Every time that he came home, he made certain he spent his days with her.

But he’s leaving again now.

His hand lifted and his calloused fingertips slid over her cheek. His touch chased some of the chill from her skin. Strange. An August evening in Texas shouldn’t have been cold...so why did she have goose bumps on her arms?

“You’ll enjoy college,” Grant told her in that low, rumbling voice that always made her stomach twist. “You’ll have the time of your life there.” His hand fell away from her. “But I need to head out again.”

He was always leaving. “Why?”

“The ranch...this place isn’t for me, Scarlett. I need more.”

The place wasn’t for him, but what about her? “Am I for you?” They’d started dating when she’d been a freshman in high school.

She’d been in love with him from the first moment she glanced up and saw him walking down the hallway. The senior...the quarterback...who’d shown interest in her.

When no one else ever had.

She was the nerd, the girl with her head always shoved in a book, too nervous to talk to boys. Someone most boys didn’t notice.

But Grant had been different. Grant was always...different.

He was also not answering her.

“Grant?” Her hands lifted and pressed against his chest. “You know...I love you.” It was the first time she’d ever confessed her true feelings to him, but surely he knew how she felt.

His muscles were hard beneath her palms. His green eyes stared down at her, but his gaze was shadowed, his emotions carefully hidden.

“I can wait for you to come back,” she told him, and she knew her voice sounded desperate. “I don’t mind waiting. I mean, my college break might happen right at the same time you get back, and I can wait—”

“Scarlett...”

Forever.

“I don’t know when I’ll be back.” He brushed back her hair, strands that the light breeze had shifted against her cheek. “And I don’t want you to wait for me.”

Pain knifed through her. “Grant?”

He leaned over her. His head bent, and his lips brushed against hers. She loved Grant’s kiss. Loved the way he tasted. The way he made her feel.

Desired. Special.

A low moan built in her throat as he kissed her.

“You deserve to be happy,” he whispered against her mouth. “I can’t...I can’t make you happy. I can’t be who you want me to be.”

What did that even mean? “I love you just as you are.” She didn’t want him to be anyone else.

But he shook his head. “Baby, you don’t even know who I really am.”

There had always been secrets in his eyes. A darkness that shadowed him. He’d been in the military for the past three years...and every time he’d come home, there had been a new hardness to him. A sharpening edge of danger.

“I can’t tell you where I’m going, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. I won’t ask you to wait for me.” His forehead leaned against hers. “I can’t.”

Tears stung her eyes. She’d been dreaming of a new life—so many plans and dreams for the two of them. She wanted a new life with Grant, but...

“You have your scholarship,” he continued, his voice sounding ragged, as emotion finally seemed to break through for him. “Take it. Take the life that’s waiting for you.”

Her hands lifted and curled around his shoulders. She knew a good-bye when she heard one. After all, she’d heard plenty of them in her life.

He kissed her again. There was desire and need in that kiss. She rose onto her toes, trying to get even closer to him. Scarlett wanted to be as close to him as she could get—

“I won’t forget you,” Grant told her.

He’d pulled away.

He always did.

She wrapped her arms around her stomach and blinked away the tears that wanted to fall.

“If you...if you ever need me...” His voice was gruff, shaking. Strange. He never sounded uncertain, but he did in that moment. “I’ll be there for you, Scarlett.”

She almost called him a liar. Because he was leaving. There was no way he could be there for her when he’d be gone.

But it hurt too much to talk anymore. She’d finally realized a painful truth.

I love him...but he doesn’t love me.

Story of her life.

Scarlett stiffened her spine. She wouldn’t reach out to him again. “Goodbye,” she whispered, because there was no more to say. He hadn’t invited her out here, to their spot by the lake, because he wanted to make plans about their future. He’d brought her out here to break up with her.

To leave her behind.

She turned away so he wouldn’t see her crying. She took one step. Another.

Scarlett wouldn’t let herself glance back. Grant McGuire was done with her. And she...she would be fine without him.

If you ever need me...

She straightened her shoulders and kept walking.

I need you now.

But needing did no good.

* * *

GRANT’S HANDS CLENCHED into fists as he watched Scarlett Stone walk away. I love you. She’d never told him that before, but he’d known...he’d known how she felt. With Scarlett, there were never any games. No pretending. Her emotions shone in her deep, warm chocolate eyes.

So he’d known exactly how much he was hurting her as he’d told her that he was leaving.

Grant took a step forward, almost called out to her.

But...

He couldn’t tell her where he was going. What he was doing. The next mission was black ops. The mission he’d been fighting to take. He loved the adrenaline. He loved the rush. He loved protecting his country and doing his damn best to make the world a better place.

He also...

“I love you, Scarlett,” he whispered. But she didn’t hear him.

Scarlett was already gone.

Funny...he hadn’t realized how cold the summer night felt. Not until that moment.

Chapter One

Ten years later...

His building should have been empty. It was after 7:00 p.m. and McGuire Securities should have been shut down for the night.

Grant McGuire was heading out of the place, more than ready to go meet his brothers at a local bar in Austin, Texas. It had been one hell of a week, and he needed to let off some steam.

So when he opened his office door and stepped into the lobby, he thought the place would be deserted.

It wasn’t.

A woman was there. She stood just two feet away, as if she’d just entered the lobby and had been making her way directly to see him. Her blond hair was pulled away from her face, secured in a little twist at her nape. Her eyes—dark, wide, deep—flared when she saw him.

And the world seemed to stop for Grant.

Scarlett? Scarlett Stone?

Without speaking, he drank her in. His gaze swept over her face. The soft curve of her cheeks, the delicate jaw, the light sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Scarlett had always hated those freckles, but he’d loved them. Had wanted to kiss every single—

“Grant? Um, do you...do you remember me?” Her voice was halting.

As if he could ever forget her. The woman starred in pretty much every fantasy he’d ever had.

She’d changed over the years. She wasn’t wearing dusty jeans and a loose T-shirt like she’d favored back in her high school days. She was dressed in black—expensively cut pants and a close-fitting turtleneck. Her feet were encased in high heels—red heels that made him think of sex.

Sex with Scarlett.

“Uh...” Pink flashed across her cheeks as she seemed to decide that no, he didn’t remember her. “I’m Scarlett...Scarlett Stone.”

A growl built in his throat. “I damn well know who you are.” Had he really just been staring at her like a lovesick fool? But...Scarlett shouldn’t be here. She should be far away from him. Safely away.

He’d made the sacrifice before. Done the right thing by her. So why was she back? In his office?

He glanced over her shoulder, his focus shifting to the McGuire Securities entrance. “How did you get in here?” He’d thought the place was locked up.

“Your assistant met me. She was leaving when I was arriving. She told me that you were still here.” Scarlett’s hands clenched around the small black bag that she carried. “Can we...can we go inside your office to talk?”

The tremble in her voice pierced right through him. Scarlett’s voice had shaken like that before. When she was scared, it was a dead giveaway to her emotions. Grant backed into his office, holding the door open for her. When she passed by him, he caught her scent—vanilla.

Did she know that he couldn’t smell vanilla without thinking of her?

No. Don’t let her see...

He pulled in a deep breath, took in more of her delectable scent, and made sure his mask was in place. The mask he’d always tried to wear around her.

Ten years... He should have gotten over her by now.

“Have a seat,” he told her as he turned on more lights and then shut the door.

Scarlett slowly settled into a chair across from his desk. She looked so polished and perfect. Not like the young girl who’d always had her hair streaming over her shoulders and a smile on her face. A smile for him, anyway. A smile that had lit her dark eyes and made—

“Do you recall what you told me? The last time we were—were together?” She fumbled a bit over those words.

He didn’t sit behind the desk. He leaned in front of it, positioning his body a few feet from Scarlett. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be more specific for me.” He kept his voice controlled. “It’s been ten years.” Ten years, and wasn’t she supposed to be married? His gaze darted to her left hand. No ring.

But she’d been scheduled to get married two months ago. He knew she had. To a lawyer named Eric Turner.

Grant might not be in Scarlett’s life, but he kept tabs on her.

Like that doesn’t sound crazy.

But he’d been out of town for the past few weeks working on a case. He’d just gotten back to Austin last night, and he didn’t know if he was staring at a married woman...or a single one.

“More specific?” Her fingers were white around that black bag. “Right.” She cleared her throat. “Okay, you said that if I ever needed you, you’d be there for me.” Her gaze held his, and was full of hope. “Now do you remember?”

He’d always been afraid that her eyes could see into his soul. See straight into the darkness that lurked there. “Yes, I remember.” He remembered that he’d always been willing to do anything for her.

Scarlett’s breath whispered out. “Good. Because, Grant, I’m going to have to call you on that promise.”

He frowned at her.

“I need you,” she told him as she wet her lips. “I’m desperate, and without your help...I don’t know what’s going to happen.” She glanced over her shoulder, her nervous stare darting to the door.

“Scarlett?” Her fear was palpable, and it made his muscles tense.

“They’ll be coming for me soon. I only have a few minutes, and please, please stick to your promise. No matter what they say.”

He shot away from his desk, his relaxed pose forgotten as he realized that Scarlett wasn’t just afraid. She was terrified. “Who’s coming?”

“I didn’t do it.” She rose, too, and dropped her bag into her chair. “It will look like I did, all the evidence says so...but I didn’t do it.”

He stepped toward her, touched her and felt the jolt slide all the way through him. Ten years...ten years...and it was still there. The awareness. The need.

Did she feel it, too?

Focus. “Slow down,” Grant told her, trying to keep his voice level and calm. “Just take it easy. You’re safe here.” With me.

But that wasn’t exactly true. She was in the most danger when she was with him. Only Scarlett had never realized that fact.

“Say you’ll help me,” she pleaded. Her tone was desperate. She had a soft voice, one that was perfect for whispering in the dark. A voice that had tempted a boy...and sure as hell made the man he’d become think sinful thoughts.

“I’ll help you,” Grant heard himself say instantly. So he still had the same problem—he couldn’t deny her anything.

Her shoulders sagged in apparent relief. “You’ve changed.” Then her hand rose. Her fingers skimmed over his jaw, rasping against the five o’clock shadow that roughened his face. They were so close right then. And memories collided between them.

When she’d been eighteen, he’d always been so careful with her. He’d had to maintain his control at every moment. But that control had broken one summer night, weeks after her eighteenth birthday...

I can still feel her around me.

“Grant?”

She wasn’t eighteen any longer.

And his control—

He heard voices then, coming from the lobby.

“Keep your promise,” Scarlett said.

What the hell?

He pulled away from her and walked toward the door.

Those voices were louder now. Because they were...shouting for Scarlett?

“Scarlett Stone...!”

“They were behind me.” Her words rushed out. “I knew they were closing in, but I wanted to get to you.”

He hated the fear in her voice. “You’re safe.”

“No, I’m not.” She sounded so certain.

Grant opened his office door. Two men were in the lobby. One wore a suit—expensive, well cut. The other was wearing a faded leather jacket and had a badge clipped to his belt.

Why is a cop looking for Scarlett? And it wasn’t just any cop. Grant recognized Shayne Townsend because he and the detective had worked a few cases in the past.

“What’s happening here?” Grant demanded.

The guy in the suit narrowed his eyes on him. “Who are you?”

Grant’s brows rose. He sure didn’t like that arrogant, demanding tone. “Grant McGuire. This is my business you’re in.”

Shayne looked over Grant’s shoulder. His eyes narrowed and Grant knew he had spied Scarlett. “Ms. Stone,” the detective murmured, his face determined. “You need to come with us.”

Us? Was the other guy a cop, too? Because Grant didn’t recognize him.

But when the suit advanced, Grant braced his legs apart and gave the guy a go-to-hell stare. “She doesn’t need to go anyplace. But you two...unless you have some sort of reason for being on my property, a warrant—”

“We’re here for Scarlett,” the suit said. His blue eyes were blazing with fury. “You can’t run anymore, Scarlett.”

She had been running...

Shayne pulled out a pair of handcuffs. “Scarlett Stone...” His voice was heavy, emotionless. Grant knew the detective tried to never let emotion influence him on the job. “You’re under arrest.”

“What?” Grant roared.

Scarlett walked past him then, heading right toward the cop. She’d known the officer was hunting her? That Shayne Townsend was tracking her to Grant’s office?

A cuff snicked around one delicate wrist.

“Are those necessary?” Grant demanded. Sure, he’d seen plenty of criminals get cuffed, but Scarlett was no criminal. She was...Scarlett.

“You can bet they’re necessary!” the suit all but shouted back at him.

The guy was getting on Grant’s last nerve.

“You’re under arrest for the murder of Eric Turner,” Shayne told her, as the other cuff slid into place. “You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney—”

Grant shook his head. This wasn’t happening. “Scarlett?”

“I didn’t do it,” she said, glancing over at him with tears in her eyes.

“Yes, you did,” the suit snarled. “You killed my brother!”

Oh, hell.

Scarlett was still looking at Grant. “I need you,” she said.

And he nodded.

I need you, too. When Shayne started to lead her from the lobby, Grant made damn sure he left with them.

* * *

SHE COULDN’T STOP SHAKING. Scarlett had been fingerprinted, searched, caged...the nightmare wouldn’t end.

She was in a cell, a small nine-by-ten-foot space that smelled of antiseptic and waste. She was afraid to move. Afraid to speak.

Terrified.

Grant has to keep his promise. Right then, he was her only hope.

She’d known that the cops were after her. She’d pulled into her condo’s parking lot, seen Detective Shayne Townsend waiting...and she’d panicked. She’d driven away as fast as she could, and gone to the only man who could help her.

If he would help her.

She’d been back in Austin for only about a year. She’d deliberately stayed away from Grant during that time, but she’d known he was in the city. He and his brothers had all come home five years before.

When their parents had been murdered.

And now here I am...in a cell, accused of murder.

He was probably rethinking his promise to help her. Probably getting ready to turn his back on her and just walk away. If he hadn’t already.

Her head sagged forward. This couldn’t be happening to her. It was a nightmare.

A door opened, metal scraping over the floor. It was the door that led back to the holding area where she was currently secured. She heard footsteps approaching, but Scarlett didn’t look up. She didn’t want the guards to see her fear.

The fear that was consuming her.

“Did you do it?”

That wasn’t a guard’s voice. It was his voice. Grant’s.

Her head shot up even as she surged to her feet and leaped toward the bars. Grant stood on the other side of them, looking grim, dangerous.

Strong.

Same old Grant. Time had sure been kind to him.

“I told you...I didn’t.” Her fingers curled around the bars. They were cold to the touch. “I’m being set up. I could never kill anyone!”

“I talked to Detective Townsend. Shayne and I...we know each other...”

Because Shayne Townsend had worked on the murder case involving Grant’s parents? Oh, this was not going well at all.

“Your fingerprints were on the knife that killed the victim, Scarlett.”

“Because I’d used the knife before. Used it for making a meal...not to kill Eric. I would never do something like that. Never!”

Grant’s jaw locked. “You were seen arguing with your...your fiancé.”

Her hold tightened on the bars. “He wasn’t my fiancé anymore. That’s why we were arguing.” She shook her head. “I know it looks bad—”

“His blood was on your clothes!”

She flinched. Grant had definitely had a long talk with the detective. “Because I found him. I thought he might still be alive, and I was trying to save Eric.” But he’d already been gone and so cold. Blood had soaked his shirt and pooled beneath him. She closed her eyes, wishing she could shut out that sight, but it was burned into her memory. “I know the evidence is pointing to me, but I didn’t do it.”

Grant’s fingers brushed over hers.

Scarlett’s eyes flew open. He had aged so well over the years. The innocence of his youth was gone, replaced by an appearance of rugged power. His face was leaner, but still as handsome. Always handsome... Sculpted lips—lips that some thought held a cruel edge, but she’d always thought his mouth was sexy. Always thought he was sexy. A faint scar curved over his square jaw, a silent testimony to the battles he’d fought over the years.

His eyes...that green was harder now, too. He stared out at the world—at her—with suspicion.

The boy she’d loved was gone.

The man who’d taken his place was a stranger.

“I used to be able to tell when you were lying to me.” His voice was low, measuring.

Her breath had stilled in her lungs. “I’m not lying,” she forced herself to say. I’m just desperate. So afraid.

His fingers curled fully around hers as her right hand fisted around the bar. “Why weren’t you engaged any longer?”

That was the question he asked her? Her gaze shifted to his throat. She didn’t want to look him in the eyes then. She couldn’t. “Because I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love.”

“Scarlett...”

Stare into his eyes. Do it! She lifted her gaze. “You’re a private detective now. You have your own agency, and I’ve—I’ve read stories about you and your brothers. How successful you are.” Not just there in Austin, but all over Texas. Heck, all over the South and up the East Coast. They weren’t just some local branch of PIs. They were a force to be reckoned with.

Once upon a time, folks in the area had whispered about the five McGuire boys...boys who’d been wild and reckless. Who’d had a reputation for trouble.

Then those boys had all joined the military.

Grant had been a ranger. Davis and Brodie, the twins, had become SEALs. Mac had been in Delta Force and the youngest brother, Sullivan, had morphed into a marine with a brutal edge.

They’d all been serving their country. They’d been steadfast in their duty. Until their parents had been murdered.

And now I’ve brought Grant into another murder investigation.

Being involved in her case had to be the last thing he wanted, but he truly was her best chance of survival. “If anyone can prove that I’m innocent,” she added, “it will be you.”

She was innocent.

“I can pay you,” she said, the words tumbling out. “Name a price, I’ll pay anything...do anything—”

His head tilted as he studied her. “Yes, you will.”

Her heart thundered in her chest. “You’ll help me? You won’t leave me on my own?”

“I don’t break my promises.” He towered over her. Grant was easily six foot three, and his body was pure sculpted power. “I gave you my word, and I’ll stick to it.”

The relief Scarlett felt almost made her dizzy.

“But you will owe me.” He backed away, and Scarlett immediately missed his touch. “And I’ll be collecting on everything you owe.” Grant gave her a nod. Then his gaze swept around the cell and his face hardened. “First order of business will be getting you the hell out of here.”

That wasn’t happening. At least, not tonight. She wasn’t supposed to go before a judge until the next day. Then he might keep holding her... What if I don’t get out at all? All during the trial, locked up. Scarlett trembled.

“I’m scared.” That confession broke from her. She didn’t know what strings Grant had pulled to get access to her, but she was just grateful to have him there with her. The years—the distance—had vanished, and she found herself being able to confess to him as easily as she’d shared all her secrets years ago.

At her words, his face hardened even more. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

She leaned closer to the bars, closer to him. “Grant—”

The metal door opened again. “Time’s up, McGuire!” a loud voice called.

Grant didn’t turn away, not yet. “Trust me,” he told her.

She nodded. She’d always trusted Grant.

He backed away.

Her eyes were on him until the heavy metal door swung shut once more. Scarlett kept holding the cold cell bars as she wondered how her life had wound up like this...

You still love him! You think I don’t know? You think I’m not aware of what you’ve been doing, all this time? Eric’s voice thundered through her mind. Their last night together. Their last argument.

She’d never expected things to turn so ugly with Eric. Never expected the fight to get so bad. She’d given him back the ring that fateful night. She’d told him she just couldn’t marry him.

He’d scared her that night, when she’d always thought he was such a safe guy before.

Maybe Grant would never need to know the full truth about what had happened. Because she had changed a lot in the past ten years. And now...now Grant wouldn’t be able to tell when she was lying.

She’d grown too used to lies.

* * *

IT WAS HAPPENING. The cops had finally taken in Scarlett Stone. The grand jury had indicted her. There wasn’t going to be an escape this time.

She’d pay for what she’d done.

She’d suffer.

This payback...it was such a long time coming. He’d had to plan so carefully to make certain that he struck Scarlett at her weakest point.

Had the woman really believed that she’d get away from him? That she’d find some ridiculous happy ending with another man?

No, Scarlett...that will never happen.

He’d taken away her dreams. Now...now the justice system would take away her life. He’d be sure to attend all the court proceedings. Watching her suffer would be so rewarding.

You’ll suffer, just the way I did.

Scarlett had wrecked his life, and now she was about to see just how much pain she could endure.

She would have nothing. No one.

In the end, he’d be the only one there, laughing as she was taken away—forever.