Page 148 of Over the Edge

In one quick movement, he shrugged out of his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

“I can’t take this.” Her protest was halfhearted at best as she snuggled into the warmth. “You’ll get cold.”

“I’ll be fine as far as the car. And I’ll crank up the heat when we get there. Let’s go.” He slid his arm around her and led her out of the building, into the strobing lights piercing the darkness from multiple cruisers. After tucking her into the front seat of his car, he circled around to the driver’s side.

As he slid behind the wheel, she shifted toward him. “How in the world did you find me?”

“Why don’t I give you the short version tonight and fill in all the details tomorrow?” He turned on the engine and put the car in gear.

She clapped a hand over her mouth to cover a yawn. “I’ll settle for that.”

Somehow he managed to condense the nerve-wracking last few hours into a handful of sentences as he drove away from what could have been another murder scene.

Wouldhave been if he’d arrived a handful of minutes later.

The mere thought of tonight’s other possible outcome sent a chill coursing through him that had nothing to do with the cold night air.

When he finished, she expelled a long, slow breath. “It sounds like fate was on our side.”

“Or a higher power.”

“I like your take better.” She let her head drop back against the seat. “Is it all right if I close my eyes for a few minutes?”

“You have not only my permission but my encouragement.”

Silence fell in the car save for the hum of tires on the pavement, and within five minutes she’d fallen into a deep sleep.

No wonder.

She had to be exhausted physically and emotionally.

So once he got her home, he’d hustle her to bed, rack out on her couch while she slept, and keep one ear tuned throughout the night in case her real-life nightmare came back to haunt her dreams and she needed the comfort of a caring hug.

Thirty-One

WHAT WAS THAT DELICIOUS AROMA?

Stomach rumbling, Lindsey blinked her eyes open and inhaled long and slow.

When had she last eaten? Lunch yesterday?

Yes.

A lifetime ago, in light of all that had happened since then.

Amazing that she’d slept the night through with nary a bad dream.

But Jack’s promise to stay close as he’d tucked her in had given her the peace of mind to enjoy a long, restful, dreamless sleep. And now, with sunshine peeking around the edges of her blinds, and her bedside clock reading eight thirty, the events of the past fifteen hours felt more like a horror movie than reality.

The aches and pains radiating throughout her body as she threw back the covers and swung her feet to the floor, however, were stark evidence of how real it had all been.

And how close she’d come to never seeing another dawn.

Quashing that chilling thought, she pushed herself to her feet. Winced. Hobbled into the bathroom on unsteady legs.Stared in shock at the bruised face and puffy lips reflected in her mirror.

More proof that last night’s trauma had been all too real.

And no amount of makeup was going to disguise the purple hues mottling her skin or the swelling around her mouth.

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