Page 27 of Edge of Danger

Her legs shook hard enough to send her tumbling into the house. Brax was by her side in an instant. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

Was he holding her up? Yes, he was. She was in his arms, and he was holding her against him, and that was good. That was what she needed.

“My...my purse got stolen by some kids in the parking lot at the mall.” Lies slid so easily out of her mouth nowadays.

“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

“Not really. One of them knocked me against the car, and I was dazed for a second. But that was it.”

“How many were there? How old were they? Male, female?”

“Brax, please.” She touched her forehead to his chest. “Let me breathe.”

“Of course. I’m sorry.” He held the back of her head in one hand, cradling it while his other arm held her close. “I’m so sorry that happened to you. You’re safe now.”

Safe. She barely managed to hold back a panicky laugh. There was no such thing as safe, not now. Maybe there never had been.

How could he keep her safe when she couldn’t tell him the truth?

“I’ll call some of my contacts with the San Antonio PD.”

“No.” She lifted her head. “Don’t do that.”

“Why not? They stole your purse, the little—”

“They’re kids. I don’t think what they did was okay, but let’s face it. I doubt I’ll ever get anything back at this point. I should’ve parked closer to the mall. I shouldn’t have stayed so late when there was hardly anybody there.”

“This isn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself.” He touched her cheek with the backs of his fingers, letting them glide down to her jaw. The tenderness of this gesture both eased her and stirred something deep inside her to life. “You’re positive you aren’t hurt?”

“I’m not hurt—and that’s another reason to let this go. It isn’t worth the time it would take for me to go to the station and fill out a report. I’ll never see my purse again.”

“You’re still shaking.” He guided her to the couch. “Sit. Rest. You’ve been through a lot.”

He had no idea.

What would happen if they found her? Watched her? Saw her with Walker?

What about Brax? What would they do to him if he tried to help her?

“It’s been a stressful evening so far.” She slid the elastic from her hair and shook it out over her shoulders, scrubbing her fingers into her scalp. What was she supposed to do now? She didn’t even have her escape money. Nothing to support Walker with.

“It’s been a stressful couple of weeks.” Brax sat beside her, close enough for their legs to touch. She would normally have moved away out of reflex, but not now. Not when she needed the comfort of his nearness.

“It has, I guess. But I love it,” she insisted, looking at him in mixed earnestness and panic. What was he leading up to? “I love being with Walker. I’m happy here.”

“You need to step back, though. I’ve put too much in your hands. You’re here alone all day. It would get to anybody.”

It was a sick joke. Here he was, concerned for her and completely missing the mark. This sweet, caring, generous man.

And all she could do was lie.

“Tomorrow’s Friday,” he mused. “Why don’t you take the weekend off? I don’t have anything pressing to manage. I could take Walker to meet my parents, and you can have the whole weekend to yourself. Think of it as a mini-vacation. Treat yourself. Go stay with some friends.”

She bit back a hysterical laugh.What friends?

“I’ll borrow one of my brothers’ cars for the weekend, and you can take mine. If you get ticketed for driving without a license, call me and I’ll use one of the favors the San Antonio PD owes me to get you out of it.” He stood, smiling like it was all settled. “I should finish making dinner. I’m not half the cook you are, but you’ve inspired me to break out the pots and pans.”

How was she supposed to say no? She had no legitimate reason to. He didn’t know she’d lost every cent she had to her name—he thought she had a bank account, for heaven’s sake, and that she’d been depositing the generous amounts of cash he paid.

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