Chapter Five

As they looked through the rest of the disc a disturbing picture emerged. Since the attack, someone had been compiling information about Sarah. They had some of her medical records, her work history, even some of her school records. It was a blatant invasion of privacy that went above and beyond any normal background investigation.

"This is bad." Sarah sat back in her chair and stared at the screen.

Xavier looked like he wanted to say something, but he reached out and blanked the screen as a uniformed courier made his way toward Sarah's desk. He had a thick envelope in one hand.

"Captain Beauvoir? Your team said I could find you here. I have a special delivery from the commander."

The guy looked skeptical and Sarah just watched as Xavier stood and produced ID, which the courier checked carefully.

"Thank you, sir. You'll have to sign." The courier proffered a clipboard bearing official insignias.

Xavier signed and the man saluted before leaving. He had to be army, though he wasn't dressed in anything remotely official looking. He looked more like a postman or special messenger than a military courier, but Sarah supposed that was the idea.

The file was marked TOP SECRET TOP SECRET in red letters. Despite herself, Sarah was impressed. This was the real thing, not some prop in a movie. in red letters. Despite herself, Sarah was impressed. This was the real thing, not some prop in a movie.

"I was waiting for this," Xavier said as he sat again, pulling a file from the envelope. "I'm willing to bet one of these guys..." On the desk in front of her, he arranged a few ID photos that had been blown up to 8 x 10s. "One of them is probably the mysterious doctor who was in your hospital room when you woke up. Do you recognize any of them?"

Sarah took a look at the photos. There he was. The third one down. Bingo.

"This one. He was the one all hyper about getting a blood sample from me before the nurse showed up." Sarah lifted up the photo and handed it to Xavier.

"Sellars." He said the name contemplatively. "Makes sense. He was one of the senior scientists on the initial project. Looks like he's started up his own illicit project right here on Long Island, despite the prohibitions against pursuing this research any further." Xavier paged through the file until he came to a sheet with the name Sellars at the top. "Last known place of employment is the university medical center here in Stony Brook. This is our guy."

"Do you want to put out an APB or handle this some other way?"

"No APBs. We'll do this quietly for now. That's proven to be the best way."

"So this has happened before?"

Xavier looked uncomfortable as he stowed the remaining pictures back in the envelope. "I'll fill you in, but not here."

She could accept that. No matter that this was a police station, there were still too many potential eavesdroppers in the office. She began to shut down the computer, popping the disc out of the drive. She handed it to Xavier, and he put it into the large envelope with the photos and some other papers.

"Come on, I'll drive you home."

Xavier waited for her to precede him out of the office. He helped her into the Humvee, then slid behind the wheel, stowing the big envelope in a secure pocket behind his seat.

When they got to her house, Xavier parked the Humvee in her driveway. He grabbed a duffel bag out of the back of the huge vehicle and followed her up the walk to her front door.

"What's this?" She looked from him to the big gear bag and back. She'd thought he was just going to drop her off, but it sure looked like he thought he was staying.

"I'm with you for the duration, Sarah. After what we learned tonight, coupled with the visit Sellars paid you in the hospital, you've got to realize you're a target. He wants to talk to you. He wants to observe you. Study you. Maybe even abduct you. If we can catch him, we can end this a lot sooner. So I'm moving in."

"Just like that?" She leaned back against her doorjamb, bone weary...and unwilling to concede his very valid points.

"Just like that," he agreed. "Come on, you have to see it. If I'm miles away at a hotel with the cleanup team, I can't help you if Sellars finds out where you live. Hell, even if I'm parked outside on a stakeout of your house, I'd be of little use while you're behind closed doors. I'd have to sweep through your yard every few minutes to be sure nobody has gained entry from the back and I'd never sleep. Do you want that?" He gave her his most hangdog look, and despite herself, she was charmed. "It'll be easier for all of us if I'm camped out on your couch. It'll also save time when we're ready to work. I have an expense account and will gladly pay for any expense having me around might incur. Scout's honor."

Damn, he really was charming when he tried. He also had made some good points, and she was now willing to admit it. It didn't make sense for him to run back and forth to the hotel-miles away-every day. She also knew it would take manpower her department didn't have to put a watch on her house on the off chance that Sellars would come here. Xavier didn't have that kind of manpower at his disposal, either. Despite the army's support in sending him here to solve the zombie problem, they'd sent only him and a small team of techs to clean up the kill sites, and a few other Green Berets.

So far, Xavier had seemed unwilling to put the other soldiers in direct contact with the zombies. They weren't immune like he and Sarah were. So their roles were more in a support capacity, running interference with the locals and keeping the work sites secure. They couldn't be spared to babysit her.

Sellars didn't appear to have her address or phone number. Both were unlisted and protected since she was an officer of the law. Still, there were ways he might be able to find out. She felt safe enough to stay in her home for now, but she admitted to herself that she'd feel a lot safer with backup on the premises.

The fact that she wanted to jump Xavier's bones didn't help her internal debate, though. Having him in her house would be a huge temptation. Of course, they were both adults and capable of refraining from acting on their impulses.

She hoped.

"You can have the guest room," she relented reluctantly. "It isn't much, and you'll have to clean up after yourself. I'm not the maid."

"I promise to be the perfect houseguest." He solemnly crossed his heart, a twinkle of devilry in his eyes.

She pushed open the front door, muttering, "I know I'm going to regret this."

She entered and he followed obediently behind. The obedience was all an act, she knew, but she didn't really fear him. He wouldn't try to push too far beyond her boundaries. Having worked with him over the past day, she'd already made up her mind that she liked him. More than that, she trusted him.

It wasn't normal for her to trust someone on such short acquaintance, but there was something about Xavier that invited that kind of confidence. He was so sure of every move he made, so nonchalantly observant of everything around him, so careful of her-both physically and emotionally.

He'd been a rock of support when she'd had to face the scene where she'd been attacked. He'd prepared her to go over the details with his team, never letting on how he was rehearsing her to deaden the pain of having to relive those horrific moments. He'd also been a solid pillar of strength when they'd faced that creature in the basement. She had faced the enemy with him now and knew he could be counted on to back her up as well as let her do her job.

A lot of her fellow cops tried to protect her from the hazards of their line of work because she was female. They didn't even do it consciously. It was an instinct in them to protect the female, but they had to overcome it if they wanted to work with her. Normally, she avoided those guys who couldn't overcome their chivalrous instincts to make life easier for both herself and for them. She couldn't fault them for being gentlemen. It was actually kind of nice-when they weren't on duty.

She preferred to work with the guys who could put that aside and see her only as a fellow officer. Because they mostly patrolled alone, it usually wasn't an issue. Only once in a while, when they had to work a special detail, did they have to team up. When that happened, the chief knew her preferences and understood her reasoning. He was a great boss, willing to play to his officers' strengths.

Xavier didn't crowd her, but she definitely felt his company in her tiny house. He filled it almost to overflowing as she showed him the guest room. He dropped his bag inside and followed her back out into the hallway.

"This is the kitchen." She felt him close behind as she gave him the nickel tour. "Help yourself to anything in the fridge or cabinets. If there's something special you want, add it to the shopping list on the freezer. I usually go grocery shopping on Saturday morning..." She trailed off uncertainly. Her whole life was upside down for the time being.

"We can still go shopping on Saturday morning," Xavier said softly from behind her.

She turned to face him, touched by the understanding concern in his expression.

"Or we can go sooner, if you like. Maybe tomorrow, on our way home."

His words struck her as odd. It was weird to hear him talk about her little house-her haven-as home. Weird in a forbidden-fruit kind of way. She'd almost given up hope of ever finding that one special man she could share her life with, and her home. Having Xavier here was like playacting. A fiendish dress rehearsal for something she wasn't certain would ever really happen.

She was convinced Xavier wasn't the settling-down type. Sure, he was probably willing to shack up with her for as long as his mission lasted, but he wasn't the staying kind. No, he had "love 'em and leave 'em" written all over his bad-boy persona.

"The bathroom's down the hall from the guest room and my room is on the other side." She refused to give in to the gentle magic that flowed between them whenever their eyes met. Sarah moved away, toward the short hallway. "Living room is on the other side of the kitchen. I've got a big-screen TV in there with surround sound. Make yourself at home. I'm going to shower and change before dinner."

"I'll cook something," he volunteered, leaning one hip against the counter in an unconsciously provocative way. Every move the man made was sexy, whether he was trying or not.

"You don't have to." She backed toward the hallway-and escape-even as she protested.

"It would be my pleasure. Don't worry. I know my way around a kitchen. Dinner will be ready by the time you're out of the shower."

She paused to give him a thankful smile. She hadn't been home in over a week and realized only now, surrounded by her belongings, that she'd missed her little nest. She needed a moment alone to reacquaint herself with the secure home she had built for herself over the years. Xavier's expression was filled with understanding and a gentle sort of compassion that was nearly her undoing. She nodded once at him before fleeing for the comparative safety of her bedroom.

Sarah took a long, hot shower, her skin turning prunish before she was willing to give up the luxury of the hot water beating down on her. All the stress of the day melted away under its influence and she began to feel a lot more confident. She was relaxed, too, though still unsure about facing the giant Green Beret who was clanging pot lids in her kitchen.

Whatever he was cooking in there smelled wonderful. As her stomach growled, Sarah threw on her fluffy terrycloth robe. The wound on her leg was pretty much gone, so she left it uncovered. It was just a little red, but judging by how rapidly she'd been healing, even that would be gone shortly. She didn't want to take the time to dither over clothes. She hadn't eaten much of her lunch and was feeling ravenous. The terrycloth robe was thick and full-length. It covered her from neck to ankles. It was more than decent.

Feeling a little wicked, she entered her kitchen a bit uncertainly. Xavier was at the stove, just turning off the heat and lifting the last pot off the burner. His bulky utility belt was nowhere to be seen and he'd stripped off his long-sleeved camo shirt. Only a soft-looking, army-green T-shirt hugged the rippling muscles of his upper body. He still wore the camo pants, but the combat boots had been exchanged for flip-flops, of all things. She hid a smile as she took in the incongruous footwear.

"Just in time." He turned to face her, stirring what looked like homemade spaghetti sauce.

A big serving dish of pasta was already waiting, steaming, on the table. Two place settings had been laid out, complete with tall glasses of ice water. They had stopped for lunch earlier in the day at a neighborhood deli. He'd probably seen then that she preferred water with her meals, and he'd remembered. His thoughtfulness, even over such a small thing, touched her deeply. It had been far too long since anyone had given thought to her preferences.

"I hope you like Italian cuisine." He poured the sauce into a serving bowl and set it on the table.

"Love it." She shot him a suspicious look. "As long as you're not one of those guys who puts hot peppers in everything they eat."

He pulled out her chair and seated her with courtly manners before sitting next to her at the small round kitchen table. "Hot peppers have their place"-he stated emphatically-"but they don't belong in every dish. Certainly not in Italian-style marinara sauce."

"Thank goodness we agree on that." She laughed as she spread a napkin on her lap. It seemed strange to sit at a formal place setting in her robe and nothing else, but Xavier had a way of making the strangest situations seem commonplace. She'd already followed him into battle against a zombie. By contrast, being half-dressed at dinner was nothing at all to blink at.

"I bet you're hungry." Xavier served her a generous portion of pasta before serving himself. "I remember how it was when I woke up after the bite. I was sort of sick to my stomach at first, then my metabolism kicked into high gear. I noticed you didn't eat much of your sandwich at lunch." One eyebrow rose in question as she spooned just the right amount of sauce over her pasta.

"You're right. I wasn't very hungry. Everything tasted kind of bland and made me nauseous. Now, though, I'm starved." She grabbed the shaker of Parmesan cheese and went to town. The sharp bite of the grated cheese was a flavor she couldn't get enough of at the best of times. With hunger riding her, she doubled her usual allotment of the salty cheese.

"I figured as much. That's why I made carbs. Fill up on pasta and your body will have enough energy to satisfy the craving. Then you'll crash and sleep solid for the rest of the night. By tomorrow, you'll be almost back to normal. That's how it worked for me, at least."

She rolled a wad of spaghetti on her fork, eyeing it hungrily. "Let's hope you're right."

They ate in silence for a while. Sarah couldn't get the food shoveled in fast enough and Xavier seemed not to mind her display of gluttony. After the initial rush to quell her hunger, she began thinking of the day's events. She winced as she remembered her reaction when faced with that horrific creature in the basement.

She'd acted like a fool. An untrained idiot. And Xavier hadn't said a word to correct her. Lord knows, her fellow cops wouldn't have wasted a beat in correcting her behavior. Xavier, however, was letting her come to her own conclusions about her performance, and those conclusions were troubling, indeed.

She looked at him, stunned by the patient compassion in his expression. This man was one in a million and, no doubt, a gifted leader of men.

"I owe you an apology." It wasn't easy for her to say the words. She couldn't look him in the eye after that initial contact, focusing instead on her plate. "I was no help at all in that basement. In fact, you would have been better off without me, much to my embarrassment. I'll do better next time."

"I know you will."

His softly spoken words made her look up. The confidence in his tone was reflected in his eyes. His faith in her made her feel a lot better, though she still didn't think it was deserved.

Before she could speak, he covered her left hand where it rested on the tabletop. His gaze sought and held hers as he leaned closer.

"You did really well, despite what you perceive as your failures, Sarah. In fact, you did a lot better than I did the first time I saw one of those creatures."

"It wasn't my first time. I should have been better prepared to face them again."

"That may be," he conceded, tilting his head consideringly. "But even knowing what to expect, it's hard to come face-to-face with something like that. I've done it enough now that I can still function, but the first few times it really threw me."

"You're just being nice." She seriously doubted anything could throw this Special Forces soldier off his game for long.

Xavier laughed out loud. "There's that word again." He shook his head.

"What word?"

He'd captured her attention, as he'd hoped. "Nice. You called me nice nice again. Jeez, woman, you're going to ruin my rep at this rate." again. Jeez, woman, you're going to ruin my rep at this rate."

She shared his grin. "Well, you are are being nice. At the very least, you're making allowances for me, either because I'm a woman or because I'm a cop, not a soldier. Either way, I should probably be insulted, but I can't fault you. I did drop the ball today. For whatever reason." being nice. At the very least, you're making allowances for me, either because I'm a woman or because I'm a cop, not a soldier. Either way, I should probably be insulted, but I can't fault you. I did drop the ball today. For whatever reason."

"How about being human?" His low voice was kind. "While I admit to being as chauvinistic as my granddaddy in certain ways, I don't think less of your abilities either because of your sex or the fact that you're a cop. We both serve justice in our way. You're just used to playing by more civilized rules than I am." He sat back, releasing her hand, though his eyes followed her every movement.

"Maybe, but I still feel I need to do better next time." She conceded the point as she finished the last bite of pasta.

"Seeking to improve with every day is something I think we both have in common."

His gracious words were spoken in a low, respectful voice that struck a chord deep within her. There were depths to this man she hadn't expected. He wasn't just the laid-back Cajun bad boy she'd expected. No, he had more than a little of the philosopher in him.

It was a tantalizing combination. An all-too-attractive combination for her peace of mind.

Sarah stood and collected the plates, heading for the sink to rinse them before placing them in the dishwasher. She shooed Xavier away when he tried to help.

"You cooked. The least I can do is load the dishwasher," she protested.

"Fair enough."

He appeared to give in but continued to bustle around her, putting the unused cheese back in the refrigerator and tidying up everything but the dishes she had claimed. He even opened the dishwasher door for her, much to her amusement, and loaded the detergent dispenser-as if it was his house, not hers.

He was all around her, his masculine presence crowding her even though her kitchen wasn't tiny by any means. It was cozy but not snug. Normally, she had plenty of room, even when she had guests over.

Xavier changed all that. His tall, broad body took up all the space. After a while she got the idea he was doing it on purpose. All the little brushes of his body against hers as he passed her on his way to the fridge, all the innocent, teasing touches of his hands as he moved in and out of her personal space. He didn't give her a chance to object. He was on the sneak attack and winning every minute skirmish until she was totally disarmed and quivering, waiting for his next foray.

Then the innocent game turned not so innocent. Xavier took her by the waist and turned her to face him squarely, backing her into the kitchen counter. She read intent in his gaze just before his mouth dropped to hers and his lips claimed hers with a passion she'd only glimpsed before.

He wasn't kidding around this time and she doubted he'd be the one to call a halt. If she wanted to stop this delicious madness, she'd have to do it herself this time.

And she would...in a minute. Or two.

Xavier loved the feel of soft, willing woman in his arms. Especially when the woman in question was the lovely Sarah Petit, hellcat in the field, pussycat in bed-or so he hoped to discover. He wanted her like he'd never wanted another woman. And he would have her. He had no doubt about that.

Whether it was today or some other time, he had made up his mind almost from the first moment he'd met her. She'd impressed him with her determination, humor, quick wit and grit, but she'd wowed him with her courage, compassion and beauty. She was a force to be reckoned with, both as a police officer and as a woman. He wanted to get to know her better, in the most intimate sense.