Page 20 of Rescued Faith

Penny followed the familiar red truck in front of her through town. They passed her favorite coffee shop, a new bookstore, and the Backdraft Bar & Grill, where she’d spent many an evening in one of their booths or the bar top. A nostalgic pang rolled through her. She and Bryce had spent some time cuddled up in that truck bed, in the cab driving around, and…doing other things she shouldn’t be recalling. Not that she’d ever let it go too far physically. It was the emotional entanglements that worried her more.

Oh, this was such a bad idea for her to come with him. Her phone rang, jarring her from the memories. She stared at the name flashing on her dashboard caller ID.

Great. And now this. If she didn’t answer, Libby would keep calling.

Better get it over with.

Penny hit the answer icon. “Hey. I don’t have a lot of time right now. Did you need something, sis?”

“Did you take your meds?”

“That’s why you’re calling?” Penny had pretty much lived on a steady diet of over-the-counter pain killers and caffeinesince leaving the hospital. She couldn’t afford to take anything stronger. She cranked the wheel to make the left-hand turn.

“I wanted to see how you were doing. Is that so bad?”

“No…” But it was strange for them. Did all oldest siblings feel the need to keep tabs on younger sisters? And why was it springing up now?

“So, what are you doing?” Libby’s voice sounded a little breathy.

“Driving.”

“Are you sure you should be?—”

“Lib, I’m in the middle of an investigation. I promise you, I’m fine. Besides, I’m following Bryce, so not like I’m all alone.”

“Bryce Crawford? You’re working with your ex?”

“Yeah. Not a big deal. We’re both adults.” And she knew better than to get involved with someone from work.

But she only had the ten-minute drive to the warehouse to figure out what tosayto Bryce and get ahold of herself.

Funny how after just seconds in his presence, all the feels had rushed back, as if they’d grown in her absence instead of diminishing. How was that possible? Especially after what he’d done.

“So, what happened to you two anyway? You never said.”

“How we got together? Or how it…ended?”

“Both.”

“I dunno. From the first moment we met when I came here to work the Sosa case, there was something there.” It’d been more than just his handsome face that’d drawn her. That charisma. That intensity that was all Bryce. “He was easy to be with. Fun.”

He enjoyed life, but beneath that party exterior was a man who would do anything for his family. Someone you didn’t want to mess with, either. Many people probably didn’t look past the extrovert persona, but she couldn’t help but see the protective side of him too. Sure, he was impulsive and didn’t mind pushingthe line. But she liked that. She’d never wanted to be with a guy that would fall apart at the first sign of danger. Bryce had guts. He’d jump in and ask questions later.

“So why did you break up with him?”

“How did you know I was the one who did the breaking up?”

“Just a hunch. Thanks for confirming it though. So spill. Why’d you run this time?”

“He cheated on me.”

“Really? Did he try justifying it? I hate when guys do that.”

“Uh, no. He didn’t.” Because she’d never given him the chance. The second she’d seen Ashlee in his arms, it was over. She’d packed up and was gone within the hour. “I ended it and left.”

So why couldn’t she get over Bryce just as quickly? Because sheneededto get over him. She was here strictly for the job. She couldn’t afford to let things get personal. Especially now that they were working together.

But he still had some kind of pull on her. She would put up her nonchalant mask, flirt a little just to show everyone there was nothing there. But it was already getting harder and harder to wear.

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