Page 44 of Embracing Desire

“Don’t think so.”Jed swept her into his arms, and she cried out.“It’s okay, Katie.”He sat down on the bale and cradled her in his lap.

“No.”She fought his embrace.She needed to dress.It was all too much.She couldn’t be in his arms.

“Kitty Kat,” he tried again.

“Home.I need to get home, please.”She glanced up at Jed.

His dark blue eyes filled with concern, but his jaw was locked.

“Please, Sir.I really, really need to go home.”She fought not to wince at the sound of her own whiny voice, but she couldn’t help it.She had to get out of here.He had to let her go.

“I’m driving you home.”

Relief poured through her.“Fine,” she whispered as his arms loosened.Katie jumped off his lap and ran for her clothes.She wobbled as she drew on her panties and jeans.The hell with the bra; her fingers were barely working.She threw her shirt on before grabbing her purse and shoes.“I’m ready.”

Jed stared at her but stayed silent.He lifted her into his arms, carried her to his truck, and set her inside as if she were made of fine china.“Don’t move.”He walked around the truck to the driver’s side.

His movements were a bit jerky.Katie regretted she’d made him that way.But she couldn’t deal with him or anything at this moment.The drive to gran’s house wasn’t long, and the tension in the truck was thick because neither of them spoke.When they arrived, he strode around to her side and picked her up again.

Katie’s grandmother was at her tea shop.Jed strode into the house and started for the stairs.

“Living room, please,” she said.If he carried her to her bedroom, she’d really fall apart.

He glanced down at her, but turned and carried her into the room and sat her on the sofa.

“Thank you,” she whispered.Go, go, go.

Jed squatted down and cupped her chin.“You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Please, Jed,” she whispered.“I need to be by myself.”She had to sort this fear out.

His dark blue eyes filled with concern.“I don’t like it.”He dropped a quick, hard kiss on her lips.“We will talk about this.”He stood and left.

Katie held her breath until she heard his truck fade into the distance.She curled up on the sofa, let out a sob, and then the tears started.She was helpless to stop them.Fear was overwhelming her even though she knew Jed would have protected her from being seen.

* * * *

Jed parked his truck outside the sheriff’s office.Jerking the truck door open, he slammed it before marching into the building.He glanced at Betty the dispatch operator.“Ry in?”

“Yes.”

With a nod, he made his way to Ry’s office.Thank God he was here.Jed needed to talk to him.

Ry glanced up from the computer and frowned.“Shut the door.”

Jed closed it with a quiet click and looked back at Ry.A piece of fabric flew from Ry’s hands, and Jed automatically caught it.

“Put the T-shirt on.”

Hell, he hadn’t even realized he was still bare-chested.His concern had only been for Katie.He pulled the T-shirt over his head.Good thing he hadn’t removed his jeans or boots.

“We’ve got a fucking issue.”Jed plopped down onto the hard wood chair and stared at Ry.

“About?”Ry sat back in his chair, but from the way he gripped the edges of the arm rests, he wasn’t as relaxed as he’d like to be.

“Katie.”Jed scrubbed his hands down his face.“I don’t know what the fuck happened.”All he could see was her frightened face, and it chilled him to the bone.

“How about you tell me?”

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