Page 105 of Nothing to Fear

“The one you went to on Sunday with Mom and Dad?” She nodded and the men looked at each other. “It’s worth asking.”

“Other than that, we were at Blaze. Always in private dining. Tripp said Fernando was mad at him, at Tripp, not Darroch. Maybe ask him what that was about.” Though she really couldn’t see Fernando hurting anyone either. “The girls at work don’t know about our relationship. The Breckenridges are the only ones who know about us. You and Fernando…” She caught Caber’s forearm. “Check with your team too, the leathers girls. Again, I don’t see them doing something like this but…” And another thought. “Ask your dad about Detective Chapman. He’s the cop investigating the break-in at my old place. I know your dad and Darroch were keeping in touch with him. Neither of them has said anything to me about there being a problem but—”

“It’s worth checking out,” Caber said, surprising her by stepping in to kiss the top of her head. “Come on, we’ll take you home.”

“It’s okay, I can—”

“Someone out there is targeting Breckenridges,” Axon said. “We’re taking you home.”

Should she tell them that she didn’t intend to stay home? No. Some things stayed between a woman and her man.

THIRTY-THREE

THE HOSPITAL’S REAR stairwell got her to the third floor without seeing anyone. Knowing where the room was, she snuck through the hallways, while trying not to look like she was sneaking, just in case.

Darroch’s door was closed. Good. Without making a sound, she opened it and slipped inside, closing it just as quietly. The curtain was pulled around the bed too, another bonus. The more barriers, the more protection they had from prying eyes.

Finding the split, she slipped between the fabric edges. His eyes were closed, though as she slipped off her shoes and laid her bag on the chair, his head rolled her way. She couldn’t even tell if his eyes had opened at all, but the curve of his lips betrayed she’d been made.

“Scoot,” she whispered, picking up the sheet to slip in next to him. He shifted a little across the bed and put an arm around her to hold her against him. She tucked the covers around them and relaxed. “God, you feel good.”

“What took you so long?”

It hadn’t been much more than an hour since she’d last been in the room. “Your brothers took me home. I had to get changed.”

“I liked the dress.”

“I put it on for you.”

“For me to take off?” His mouth moved in her hair. “Come up here.”

Laying a hand on his chest, she rose to meet his eye. “If I kiss you…”

“What?”

Just admiring those lips was enough to draw her breathing deeper. “You know what.”

One inch would lead to a mile. Man, the stirring of need and gasp of want, her inner muscles clenched. Being in bed with this man was risky.

“We’re allowed, I’m your guy.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For…?” he asked, his hand sliding up to clasp the back of her head. “The apology should come from me, I stood you up.”

Dinner? Old news. “I don’t want us to be broken.”

He guided her mouth to his. “We’re not broken.”

His lips were sure, so familiar and every promise her heart craved.

She eased away. “I held back from us, for so many reasons, which I can’t even remember now.”

With his grip still on her head, he angled her a little for the next kiss. “What matters is where we are now.”

“You have to rest.”

“You’ve got something on your mind, beautiful,” he murmured and kissed her again. “What do you want to say to me?”

---