Page 17 of Cornered

Tate stilled and forced himself not to choke on the sip he’d just taken. After he swallowed, he looked at Cole. “That was a statement.”

“Okay. You like Steph, right?”

“Hm. I do. I mean, I’ve just met her, but she seems like a nice person. A person I might like to get to know should I not be totally focused on my career right now.”

“So, you’re not interested?”

“I don’t think I said that.”

Cole laughed. “All right, then. I’ll just say this. Steph is amazing, but you might want to keep in mind she has three older brothers who all know how to use a gun. And a knife if you count Keegan.”

“A knife?”

“He’s a surgeon.”

Tate chuckled. “Warning noted.” Then he sobered. “But honestly, right now isn’t a good time for romance. She’s grieving and I’m investigating her friend’s death. I don’t think it would be in good taste to ask her out in the near future.”

“Maybe not, but there’s no reason you can’t be her friend in the present.”

“That’s the conclusion I’ve come to. So you can stop your copycat-big-brother-James protective routine.”

Cole slanted him an amused look, then turned his attention back to the road.

“And frankly, I meant what I said. I’m focused on this job, you know? I just made detective. I can’t let myself get distracted no matter how much I might like her.”

“Well, there’s that, but honestly, Steph has been around law enforcement forever, so it’s not like she doesn’t know what your job entails.”

Tate nodded. “I’ll take that into consideration.”

“Then again, she may not be interested in going out with you, so it’s a moot point.”

“And there is that. So thank you.” He paused. “Did she say that?”

“No. I haven’t asked her and don’t think anyone else has either. Would you like me to?”

“No!” Tate cleared his throat. “No. Thanks for the offer, but I’m a big boy. I can handle my own love life. Or lack of.” He paused. “Just drive.”

Cole chuckled and two minutes later he pulled into Steph’s driveway. Tate’s heart lurched when she stepped out of her front door and joined them by climbing into the back seat.

“Hey,” she said.

They echoed their greetings, and she fell silent, her face a mask of sorrow.

Her grief reached deep into a place he thought he’d locked up nice and tight, but all he wanted to do was be there for her, comfort her while she processed the death of her friend. With each passing moment he spent in her company, she drew him to her, making him want more than just friendship. He kept his sigh silent.Why now, God?Because in spite of all Tate’s protests, his heart was hoping it wouldn’t be long before he and Steph could possibly explore options that went beyondfriendship. And now Tate was restless, impatient with his wishy-washy feelings. He wanted to turn again and look at her, but refrained. He’d wait. Right now wasn’t about him or what he wanted. It was about Steph and being part of the support system she needed. He’d wait. Be patient and see how things played out. She would heal and he’d give her all the time she needed for that.

Which was okay. His gut was saying she was worth the wait. But would she feel the same about him?

SEVEN

STEPH WAS GRATEFULfor her big brother, truly. But if James hadn’t left when Tate and Cole drove up, she was going to have to kick him and his helicoptering out. And now she was in Brenda and Greg’s home, struggling to hold it together.

Her heart broke at the grief etched on Greg’s face as he led them into the den. Once seated, Steph held three-year-old Magda on her lap while six-year-old Vince played with his toy cars in the adjacent playroom, visible from where she, Tate, and Cole were. Fourteen-year-old Mark was nowhere to be seen.

An open book lay face down on the end table next to her.A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens. Brenda’s.

Greg swiped his eyes and cleared his throat. “Sorry. I’m still in shock.” He waved to his mother in the kitchen, and she came to take Magda from Steph. The little girl protested until she was given a cup of juice and a handful of animal cookies. Beau, the well-trained German shepherd, raised his head from his bed, but when no one offered him anything, he settled back onto his paws with a disgruntled sigh.

Steph turned her attention to Greg. “I don’t even have the words to express my sorrow or how much my heart hurts for you and everyone who loved her.”

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