Page 48 of Lone Star Country Protector
“My supervisor is probably popping TUMS over this incident,” he said through clenched teeth. “Coming here on your own is reckless, Blakely. Or have you forgotten that someone out there is trying to kill you?” He fished his cell out of his pocket.
“I needed to know that you were okay,” she said. “Now that I have, I can go.”
As she tried to stalk past, Dalton grabbed her wrist to stop her. Skin-to-skin contact wasn’t his brightest idea. The sizzle of electricity nearly lit a fire. “Don’t. Go.”
She lifted her gaze to meet his.
“It’s not safe for you to leave by yourself,” he clarified. The last thing he wanted to do was give her hope. She’d crushed any fantasy he’d had about the possibility of the two of them being more than professional associates. “You get that, right?”
She compressed her lips and nodded.
“You have to take this threat seriously,” he continued, firing off a text to his supervisor to let him know she was safe. The move might get him in more trouble, but it was the right thing to do.
“You don’t think I am?”
“Ditching the person sworn to protect you isn’t a good move, Blakely.”
There was so much hurt and disappointment in her eyes that a knot tightened in his chest. Damn. He needed to get a grip.
* * *
“I shouldn’t havecome here.” Blakely had made a huge mistake. It was clear to her now that Dalton had been doing his job and didn’t want to see her again. As far as the couple of kisses went—kisses that had more promise than any she’d had before meeting him—he most likely got caught up in the moment. Besides, she’d been the initiator, and he’d been along for the ride.
When she put it like that, it didn’t sound a bit like Dalton’s personality. But it was easier to stick him in that bucket than face the fact she’d let a good person go because of fears she couldn’t seem to conquer.
“You’re here,” he said, all business now. “You might as well stick around until someone can be sent for you.”
His cell buzzed. He checked the screen and then excused himself to take the call.
While he was gone, Blakely sent the message to clear her docket for the rest of the week due to her personal safety being compromised. Johnny Spear, or whoever had been behind the wheel of the SUV that had rammed into her, would be able to set up on a nearby rooftop and make the shot as she walked up the courthouse stairs.
Disappearing for a minute to give authorities time to find him and catch him made the most sense to her now. But where could she go? She should have considered this before hopping into the car on a whim. Blakely didn’t do “whim.” She’d never done “whim.”
What had gotten into her?
The short answer? Dalton Remington. He was a game changer. One she couldn’t afford.
Speaking of the devil, he came walking up.
“How is your sister?” he asked after tucking the cell inside his pocket.
“Stable,” she said. “Greg and Chase should already bewith her this evening. She’s sitting up and able to talk on the phone. We had a good conversation on the drive over.” Blakely issued a sharp sigh. “Looks like we’re both getting positive news tonight.” She wasn’t sure how he would react to what she wanted to say next. “Would it be all right if I went inside the room and met your grandmother?”
“There a reason?” he asked.
“I’d like to be your friend,” she said. “If that option is ever on the table. And if it isn’t, then we both walk away once this is over.”
“After you,” he said with a small nod and a ghost of a smile on his lips—lips that she didn’t need to focus on.
The room was softly lit. The steady beep of machines next to his grandmother’s bed that were much like a heartbeat reassured her.
There were flowers and cards on every surface. The room smelled of lilacs and roses. “Wow.” There was so much love surrounding this woman.
Who would care if Blakely was gone?
Her sister and Chase. At one time, she would have added Greg’s name to the list, but she barely recognized her brother-in-law anymore. At her gravesite, there would be exactly two people.
How sad was that? And why did she suddenly care? She’d gotten by fine until now taking care of her sister and Chase. Wanting more out of life aside from her small family and work came out of the blue.
