Page 202 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

He made no move to leave her, and his hand was still on her arm. Becca was certain he must be able to see the way her heart was beating. Her mouth was dry, and she swallowed. She knew she should just turn and open the door and go into her room, but she couldn’t seem to make herself move.

His hand released her arm then traveled to her face. Gentle fingertips brushed across her cheek.

“You’re really something, Becca. A scare like that and you came up fighting.” His voice was husky. He ran his thumb across her lips then bent his head and brushed her mouth with his own.

The kiss was feather-light and brief, but the encounter left Becca breathless. She had to keep her distance from Max. He was away from the Lord, and he just might be a killer. She stepped back and opened the door. “Good night,” she whispered.

She shut the door and leaned against it before he had a chance to answer. She listened in the dark until his muffled footsteps went down the hall. She went to her bed and prayed for strength and guidance. She needed all the help she could get.

Becca tossedand turned all night, her arm a throbbing pain that kept her from resting properly. She finally dozed offnear dawn and awoke with the sun streaming across her face. Her arm still hurt but the pain had dialed down a notch. She stretched and got up.

Today she was going to have to tell everyone the truth. She couldn’t put it off any longer. Max knew now and whoever had been targeting her knew as well, so it might not come as a big surprise to very many people.

By the time she got downstairs to breakfast, the rest of the family had assembled in the dining room.

Her grandmother met her at the doorway. “You should have awakened me last night,” she scolded. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Okay. A little sore, but I’m all right.”

She started toward the table, but Gram put her hand on her arm. “Say nothing,” she whispered.

Startled, Becca glanced at her grandmother and saw an urgent plea in her eyes. She gave a slight nod to Gram and went to the table.

“I’m going shopping on the mainland today, Becca. You want to come?” Shayna asked.

“She’s not up to going anywhere,” Max put in.

“I feel fine,” Becca protested.

“In that case, you can join me in the office to do a little work.” His voice brooked no argument.

Shayna made a face. “Slave driver.”

“You can’t go anyway,” Tate said. “I have to take the boat to town. I’m trading it on a new one.”

Shayna clapped her hands. “A new boat! What are we getting?”

“A new sailboat,” he said.

“A sailboat? I can’t take that when I want to go to town!”

“You’ll have to take the ferry.”

“This is just another way to make sure you keep me here, isn’t it? Well, it won’t work.” Shayna rose and rushed from the room.

Tate started to go after her, but Becca beat him to it. She hurried after the other woman and found her sobbing in the sunroom.

“I hate him,” she said when she saw Becca. “He spoils everything.”

“You know you don’t hate him,” Becca told her. She sat beside her on the sofa.

“Yes, I do. You don’t know what it’s like living with a man who wants to control every single thing I do. I hate my life. I wish I was dead!” Shayna buried her face in her hands and wept.

“God loves you, Shayna. He’s there for you in all your problems.”

“No, He isn’t. No one is.” Shayna turned and buried her face in Becca’s shoulder. “My life is such a mess. I don’t want to be married to Tate anymore.”

“You guys can work it out. Why don’t you go see the pastor at the church in town?”

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