Page 12 of Shea's Hero

“I know.” A beat, and then with a wry laugh, “You might want to check yourself in the mirror. I can practically hear your nose growing from here.”

CHAPTER 3

SHEA

I love my brother, but if he asks me if I’m okay one more time, I think I might lose it.

Not literally. But my smiles are definitely getting tighter with each progressiveare you sure you’re okayNiall asks. My calm,yes, I’m fine, don’t worry, reassurance is sounding less and less convincing. And if I hide out in the bedroom much longer, he’s going to end up dragging me to the doctor, insisting I’m sick.

It’s not that I don’t understand.

What happened last night was pretty much his worst nightmare. His wife—his newly pregnant wife—and sister accosted by two masked men in a van. Anyone who watches true crime shows or even the news knows that’snota good combination.

Especially given that Jade was kidnapped not just once, but twice, I get why he’s worried. Scared. My already protective brother has shifted into hiswrap Jade and Shea in bubble wrap and whisk them away to a remote islandmode.

Poor Jade is more shaken than me, and for good reason. The past kidnappings, of course, and the not insignificant fact that she’s pregnant. So it makes sense she would want to race back toTexas and hide out at the Blade and Arrow headquarters there. Surrounded by Niall and his five teammates on an uber-secure ranch, she can relax. Feel safe again.

Maybe it’s delayed shock, but the whole abduction thing isn’t what’s really bothering me.

Yes, my cheek hurts. But after icing it on and off last night, plus some painkillers, it’s really not that bad.

Is the idea that two men came roaring up in a van to abduct one of us—at least, I’m assuming that was their plan—pretty freaking crazy? Yes. Undoubtedly.

But my mind isn’t stuck on either of those things. It’s stuck on Oliver.

Still so handsome, with those gorgeous blue eyes rimmed with dark lashes any woman would be envious of, and a strong jaw and high cheekbones and a smile that never failed to make my stomach flutter. His hair is longer now, and he has a bit of stubble, which gives him this sort of dangerous look I love.

And the way he looked in his uniform…

Oliver’s never been a big, bulky guy, preferring to keep in shape through activities like running and hiking and climbing. But he’s got plenty of muscles, and they were on display last night, his biceps stretching his sleeves and his thighs bulging as he crouched in front of me.

Crap. I’m not supposed to be thinking about how great my ex looked. Just because he was nice to me last night doesn’t mean anything. He was just doing his job. What was he supposed to do, be rude while he was taking my statement? While I was fighting tears and holding an ice-pack to my face, no less?

And anyway, I’m sure aside from the case, I won’t hear from him again. He’ll probably make his partner, Kane, communicate with me from now on. And I’ll never go back to Sleepy Hollow, because now that I’ve actually seen Oliver, I’m not sure my heart can handle doing it again.

“Shea.” Niall pushes my half-open bedroom door open and pokes his head inside. Lines of worry are etched across his forehead, and his gaze is dark with concern. “Are you feeling okay? Does your cheek hurt? Are you sure you don’t want?—”

“Niall.” I put my Kindle aside—not like I was actually reading it—and give him a hopefully convincing smile. “I’m really okay. Even Jade said so.” Then I bring out the big guns. “Don’t you trust your own wife’s opinion?”

He pins me with a stern glare. “Really, Shea?”

“I’m just saying. I feel fine.” As his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline, I concede, “My cheek is sore. But it’s not any worse than that time you hit me with that basketball back in middle school.”

Niall sighs. “That was an accident.”

“I know.” Shoving aside my thoughts of Oliver, at least for the moment, I pat the mattress beside me. “Come sit down. I can tell you want to talk to me about something. So, spill it.”

He comes over and sits down, stares at me for a second, then pulls me into a hug. His arms tighten. Once he releases me, he looks at me with emotion working in his eyes. “I know you think I’m being overprotective. Having one of the guys stand guard last night. Checking on you nonstop. But—” He swallows hard. “I was scared, Shea. That you and Jade could have been taken, that you were hurt…”

I grab his hand. “I know. But we’re okay.”

“Yes…” He pauses. “Are you okay about seeing Oliver, though? I know that must have been hard.”

“It was fine.”

“Was it?”

“Fine. It was hard,” I admit. “But maybe it’s a good thing. It’s keeping me distracted from the whole attempted abduction part of the night.” With a dry laugh, I add, “Seeing my ex after four yearsandnearly being thrown in a van in the same night. That’s definitely one to remember.”

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