Page 27 of Christmas in the Shadows

Her expression tightened. “I know.”

He imagined what Gilbert might do if he really was doing something illegal and he caught Chelsea in his house. Tex didn’t want to think about the repercussions Chelsea might face. Even so, anger burned in him at the thought of anything happening to her.

“What should I do?” Chelsea looked up at him with wide eyes. “I can’t go to the police with this information. It’s all speculation. But I don’t want to sit back and watch this happen either, especially if my suspicions are correct.”

Tex didn’t say anything a moment. He wanted to give her advice. But it needed to be the right advice.

For that reason, he lifted a prayer before he opened his mouth. He was going to need some divine wisdom with this one.

Chelsea stared at Tex, curious about what he’d say.

The thing was, even after everything that had happened between them, she still trusted his counsel. Even though she hadn’t seen him in twelve years and couldn’t begin to imagine what he might have gone through in that timespan.

His eyes appeared haunted, proving that his military experience and everything he’d been through hadn’t been easy.

Plus, she’d seen a scar on the side of his neck earlier. There were more on the top of his arms.

She wanted to ask questions about them, but she didn’t. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Maybe it wasn’t her business.

“Let me see what I can do,” Tex finally said. “I’m staying with Gilbert for the next few days. Maybe I can find out something for you.”

Concern raced through her gaze. “I don’t want to put you in that position.”

“You aren’t. I asked you what was going on. I’m putting myself in this position.”

She nibbled on her lip a moment before saying, “Tex . . . if any of my theories are true, then I have no doubt about the lengths Gilbert will go to keep his secrets silent.”

“I get that. But I can do this.”

She still stared at Tex, wondering if his words were true. Would he help her? But what if he was hurt in the process?

“Chelsea . . . I worked Black Ops for the military. I can handle Gilbert.”

Her eyebrows shot up at his words. “Black Ops?”

He nodded. “I don’t tell many people that, but I know I can trust you not to say anything.”

Her heart caught in her throat. “That sounds dangerous.”

“You could definitely say my job was dangerous.”

“Is that how you got this?” She touched the scar on his forearm, tracing it with her finger.

Tex quickly pulled away and tugged his shirt sleeve down.

“I’m sorry.” She’d crossed a boundary she hadn’t intended on even tiptoeing toward.

What had she been thinking? The action had been instinctive, natural. For her, at least.

Clearly not for Tex.

Before any other words could leave her lips, he stood. “I should get back.”

Great. Chelsea had scared him away. Maybe it was better this way, however.

He paused. “But I really hate to leave you here alone.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll make sure I lock up. I think someone just wanted to scare me. Unfortunately, it worked.”

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