Page 30 of Callahan's Haven

“You can’t tell them anything more.”

“I don’t know anything moretotell them.” She looked down and picked at her jeans—something he’d noticed she did when she was nervous.

“Come on,” he said, wrapping his hand around hers and standing. “Let’s go for a walk.” He pulled her up from the couch, keeping a tight hold on her hand as they walked through the shop and outside.

It was getting chilly, so he let go of her hand and wrapped an arm around her—something he noticed didn’t keep her from glancing around as he led her to his car. “So, how many people besides you, Darrin, and Solace are watching me?”

He laughed. “Solace said you had made her. And it’s Declan.”

“Oh.” She nodded. After a few moments of them walking in silence, she pulled away from him, concern evident on her face when she turned and looked up at him. “Is my dad in danger?”

He took her hands and squeezed. “Yes and no.”

She frowned up at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Cal glanced around and let go of one of her hands to start walking again toward his car at the back of the near-empty visitor’s parking lot, drawing her close to his side as they went. “You’re dad’s in a…situation.”

He pulled her under his arm again when her steps faltered.

“Okay,” she said, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Why does asituationrequire people watching me? Dad wouldn’t go so far as something like this unless he thoughtIwas in danger.” She looked up at him when they stopped at the passenger door of his car. “Wait. That’s it, isn’t it?I’min danger.”

He opened the car door and helped her unresisting form inside. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t lie to her if she outright asked him, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to stall. He shut the door on her grimacing face before rushing around the front of his vehicle and getting in.

Haven turned in her seat—her angry glare staring a hole in him as he shut his door and turned on the ignition. It was chilly in the car—from more than just the cold outside—so he cranked up the heat setting before facing her. She wanted an answer, and there was only one he could give her.

“Yes.”

10

Haven couldn’t believeher dad hadn’t said anything to her today, she fumed, but at least Cal wasn’t pulling any punches with her.

“But it’s almost over,” he said, leaning toward her. She continued to glare at him while he tried to explain. “If this Collins thing hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have even known we were here.”

And she might never have met him. The idea didn’t sit well with her.

“How long?”

“A couple of weeks,” he answered without hesitating. “Since the Sunday evening you got back from visiting your dad.”

She let out a huff. That explained all thebe carefultalk before she’d left. She frowned. “How many people are we talking about?” She’d only seen the three of them, but that didn’t mean there weren’t more.

“There’s four of us.”

“And you work with my dad?”

Cal gave her a grin—the one she hadn’t been able to keep out of her mind—the one she would like nothing more than to wipe off his perfectly freckled face.

Preferably with an angry kiss.

“We used to. He was our squad commander.”

“Of course he was.” She settled back in her seat and looked out the windshield with her arms crossed, muttering, “Whywouldn’the call in a squadron of Marines.” She stewed for several seconds, Cal’s wary expression visible in her peripheral vision. “So, how much…” She cleared her throat and frowned over at him. “How much danger am I in?”

Good grief. It must be bad if the tensing of his face and body was any indication.

She raised her brows at his continued silence. “Well?”

“Well,” he said, his steady gaze not leaving hers. “We’re here. Aren’t we?”

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