Page 63 of Buried Too Deep

“Phin!” Val sounded joyful to be talking to him again.

“In a minute,” he said quietly. “There’s a car parked in front of Cora’s house, behind my truck. It’s a black Lexus. Can’t see the plate. And now the driver’s getting out. Older man. Maybe fifty-five or sixty. Gray hair. Mustache. Dark glasses.”

“Hold on.” There were voices in the background and then Val was back. “Cora knows him. It’s Patrick Napier, her friend Tandy’s father.”

Phin relaxed. “That’s good. I’m not carrying like you, but the cordless drill in my toolbox could do some damage if it had to.”

Val chuckled. “I’m so glad you’re back. I’ve missed you. Come into the house, so I can see your face. It’s been too long.”

It had been too long. He’d missed all his work friends, but Val had become almost like the sister he’d left behind. Scarlett would love Val. She’d love Cora, too.

Scar would love all his friends. He needed to give her the chance. He only hoped she’d forgive him when he finally got his act together to go home.

Not turning his back on the older man cautiously approaching the front porch, he stepped into the foyer when the door creaked open. Loudly.

Need to WD-40 that.

“Phin.”

He looked down to see Val smiling big. He didn’t have to look down far. Val was six-one in her boots. Just a few inches taller than Cora had been in those ridiculous heels. He hoped she wore more sensible shoes today. He didn’t like that her feet hurt her.

Val opened her arms, then waited, expectant. “Okay to hug you?”

He grinned down at her, not missing the way her eyes opened in surprise. He really needed to grin more often. “Yes. Please.”

She threw her arms around his neck and clung. “Thank you.”

He patted her back awkwardly, knowing what she was thanking him for and rejecting the notion. When Val and her boyfriend Kaj had been in trouble six weeks before, he’d stepped in, providing backup. In the end, he’d folded, spiraling right there in front of them. But that was over and done and he wasn’t going back there.

He hoped. He prayed.

“I didn’t do anything,” he muttered gruffly. “You and Kaj did it all.”

She drew back, holding his face between her palms. “Say ‘You’re welcome, Val.’ ”

He rested his forehead against hers. “You’re welcome, Val.”

She sighed, a happy sound. “You still going home for Christmas to see your family?”

She was the only one he’d told before yesterday. “That’s the plan.”

“I’m going to nag you.”

“And I’ll say thank you.”

Her eyes went shiny. “I’m sorry that I pushed you. You weren’t ready.”

He’d stepped up to be a bodyguard six weeks before, but he really hadn’t been ready. He wondered if he ever would be. “I’d do it again. For you.”

That was the truth. Even if he got triggered and spiraled afterward. He’d done what he’d needed to do and had managed to hold off the episode until everyone was safe.

The shininess in Val’s eyes became full-on tears that she wiped away with her sleeve. “You sweet-talker, you.”

A creak on the grand staircase had them both looking up. Cora stood on the top step, watching them, her face a carefully blank mask. Val took a step back, watching them both.

Phin wondered what had happened. Cora’s sweet smile was gone. She wasn’t even angry like she’d been the day before when he’d frightened her on the street.

Val’s brows lifted. “Come on down, Cora. Your friend’s dad is on the front porch. I think Phin scared him out of knocking.”

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