Page 88 of Capturing You
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Brooklynn never wanted to leave Ford’s arms.
Her world was falling to pieces, but in his arms she felt safe. In this house, on this property, she felt protected from all the scary things in the world.
The killers who’d chased her.
Even Lenny couldn’t find her here.
The safety made her feel terrible, knowing that she’d put Lois in danger.Thank You, Father, that she’s still alive. Thank you for sparing her life.
But what if someone else got hurt because of her? What if Lois had been killed? What if the killers tracked Alyssa down, or Mom and Cici and Delaney came back to town? What if Kenzie showed up?
Dad could be in danger, though he traveled with security, as did Mom.
Brooklynn and her sisters had all refused to be guarded twenty-four seven. Maybe she should call Dad and ask for a security guard. If she left this safe haven, she’d do that. But she didn’t want to leave. She didn’t want to move out of Ford’s protection.
Or his arms.
The thought brought her up short. What was she doing, letting him hold her like this?
She leaned away, and he dropped his arms and stepped back.
“You okay?”
“Yup.” She swiped her fingers under her eyes, though there was little moisture there. Ford’s T-shirt was damp with her tears. “Sorry. I’m okay. Really.” She cleared her throat.
He watched her as if terrified she’d fall apart again.
She attempted a smile, though fear and worry still hummed in her blood. “So, what did this syndicate smuggle?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping the ledger offers some clues, but I haven’t figured it out yet.”
“Let’s look at it together. Maybe I’ll see something you didn’t.”
His lips pressed into a thin line.Humphedin the back of his throat, and she braced herself for the coming rejection. He didn’t want her help. He wanted her out of his business.
“It can’t hurt. I can use all the help I can get.”
Wow. He could be taught. She tamped down the triumphant feelings, not wanting him to see.
Carrying their empty glasses, she followed Ford back down the staircases to the kitchen, where they rinsed the dishes and tidied up. Though Ford was his usual, quiet self, he seemed… Peaceful wasn’t the right word, but maybe a little less grouchy. Almost as if sharing his struggles and comforting her had lifted some of his burden.
Yeah, right.
More likely, she was seeing what she wanted to see.
She wanted Ford to like her. Silly as it was, she wanted him to be thankful she was there, not lamenting his unwanted, too nosy houseguest.
They were headed to Charles’s office when her phone dinged with a text.
It’s Nathan Church. Call when you have a minute.
“Someone important?” Ford asked.
“It’s Lenny’s partner. Maybe he has information for me.” She called the unfamiliar number. When he answered, she said, “It’s Brooklynn.”
“Thanks for calling me back so quickly.”
