Page 123 of Lethal Danger

He needed to get as far away from Jazz Lamont as possible in the next day or two if he could get out of his security contract. Because there was no way he could give her the relationship he was starting to suspect she wanted.

And he was afraid, given the emotion in her eyes that he didn’t dare define, he was going to have to break her heart.

Thirty-Four

Who’d have thought nearly getting killed could feel so good? Jazz smiled as she leaned back into the cushions of Nev’s sofa and propped her feet up on the coffee table, holding a mug in her hands.

Hawthorne cared for her. Maybe more than cared.

Her pulse fluttered as she remembered the deep concern in his eyes as he’d touched her cheek and asked if she was hurt.

A shiver tracked down her spine at the memory of the way he’d held her in his strong arms, squeezing almost too tight as he pressed her against his chest, like a person did when they’d nearly lost someone they…loved.

Nev had interrogated Jazz about Hawthorne almost as much as the explosion when Jazz had returned home. Probably because Nev could see Jazz’s swoony feelings written all over her. Jazz guessed she was beaming. Wasn’t that what a woman in love did?

She frowned.

If only Nev had been supportive and happy for her. Not that Nev had said much. She hadn’t needed to say anything with her grim expression broadcasting her thoughts so loudly. Jazz didn’t see why Nev—

The ringtone from her phone drew Jazz’s gaze to the device on the coffee table. The paramedic at the scene had told her not to use electronics for twenty-four hours since she had a mild concussion. But talking on the phone should be fine, as long as she wasn’t staring at the screen.

The caller ID Pierce Cracklen appeared on the screen.

She grabbed the phone as she set down her mug. “Hi, Uncle Pierce.”

“Jazz, hello.” His tone sounded pleased, like he was happy he’d reached her. “I wasn’t sure when you were working today.”

“Not until the late shift.”

“Are you all right? You sound tired.”

Was Uncle Pierce coming to know her that well? The possibility brought a smile back to her face. “Yes, I’m fine.” Should she tell him what had happened? The unfamiliar urge startled her. She’d never wanted to tell her aunt and uncle anything about her life as an adult. But that was before Uncle Pierce had started to like her and care.

“Are you sure? It sounds like something is wrong. Are you sick?” Worry pinched his voice.

“No, no. I’m not sick.” She couldn’t have him calling a doctor or rushing over himself. “I have a mild concussion, that’s all.”

“A concussion? How did you get that?” His concern was almost palpable. And it went straight to her heart. Probably into the hole left by parents who’d never cared.

She told him about the bomb on the trail, how the explosion would’ve killed her if not for Flash.

“I’m coming to your apartment right now. You shouldn’t be alone.” The protective ferocity in his voice reminded her of Hawthorne.

Was this real? Did she really have two men in her life who cared about her now? One who was becoming the father she’d never had and the other…

But her uncle’s words sank in, halting her delightful thoughts. “I’m not at my apartment. I’ve been staying with a friend for the last couple days.”

“Oh. Before what happened today?” His confusion came clearly across the line.

She should tell him. “Yeah. This wasn’t the first attack, so I left my apartment to try to throw whoever’s trying to kill me off the trail.”

“Kill you?” A mixture of anger and shock raised his voice. “Jazz, why didn’t you tell me? I could help keep you safe.”

Wow. He really did care about her now. Things were looking up.

“Have you told the police?”

“Yes, they’re involved. But no one’s been able to figure out who’s behind the attacks, beyond the thugs I caught.”

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