Page 39 of Dark Terror
“Walk outside with me for a minute, Cara,” Gabe said after he and Harry arrived back at Gabe’s.
They’d picked her up from the library, and she’d been disappointed to see his partner with him. She was still uncomfortable around Harry and was sure the woman didn’t approve of her staying at Gabe’s town house. She glanced over her shoulder to see Harry watching them as they went out to his patio. Cricket raced out with them. It had taken the little guy a full three minutes to settle down from his excitement at seeing them.
“He’s ridiculous,” Gabe said, his gaze on Cricket as the dog raced in circles, his mouth snapping at the air like a demented fool.
“He’s just happy to be free. Admit you like him.” For his first day alone at Gabe’s they’d closed him in the utility room with plenty of food, water, and toys. Cara felt bad about that, but not knowing what kind of trouble he could get into being on his own, it had been the best option.
“I’ll admit no such thing.” He slid her a smile, letting her know he was kidding.
“So, why are we out here where your partner can’t hear us talk?”
He blew out a breath. “It has to be obvious that there’s some damn strong chemistry between us. Nothing wrong with that other than the timing. But you—”
“Can’t stay here.” She knew that was coming, and as much as she wanted to argue, she couldn’t. He was risking his job having her here, and the last thing she wanted was for him to get in trouble because of her.
If she saw a future with him, she might have decided to fight to stay with him. Someday she wanted to get married, have children, and hopefully have a silly dog still in the picture, but it wouldn’t be with him. She did not plan to be Lisa, praying every day that her husband safely returned home each night and not having her prayers answered. The image of her sister-in-law draped over David’s casket, her heart broken, her tears wetting the American flag that was later folded up and presented to her, would live in Cara’s heart and mind forever.
The worst moment that day, though, had been the last radio call. It had gutted her. She could still recall it word for word. Over the speakers a dispatcher had called for David three times. At getting no answer, the dispatcher said…
“Last call for Officer David Jenner. ID 836, you are clear to go 10-7. Officer Jenner, you are a hero to our community and your brothers in blue. May you rest in peace.”
The dispatcher had then keyed in the officers out on patrol who couldn’t attend the funeral. One after the other they had clicked their mics in a tribute to her brother. That was when Cara had lost it, when she’d promised herself that she would never be Lisa, praying each day that her husband returned home to her.
“Does your police department have a safe house?” she asked.
The smile he gave her was a sad one. “That would require money the department doesn’t have. You’re going to Harry’s. She can protect you as well as I can.”
“She doesn’t like me.”
“Harry doesn’t like anyone, so don’t go feeling special.”
“Not even you?”
He put his hand on the back of her neck, his grip possessive, and she liked that more than she should.
He laughed. “Too often not me. You don’t even want to know how many times she’s threatened to shoot me.”
“If she ever does, I’ll scratch her eyes out for you.”
“Ah, Cara. When this is over—”
“We’ll have a fling on the condition we agree not to fall in love with each other. I could never love a cop.”
“What’s love got to do with it?” he said, giving her a heart-stopping grin that said he’d just amused himself.
Well, she couldn’t blame him for that. She found him highly amusing herself. She also couldn’t believe she’d offered to have a fling with him. She liked him. A lot. And she trusted him, which was probably why she was comfortable saying what was in her mind.
She’d seen what true love was in her own family, and that was what she wanted for herself someday. Gabe was a man who could possibly bethe one. She loved how protective he was and how he made her laugh, not to mention the way he made her feel all gooey inside. She could see a future with him if only he wasn’t a cop.
But she wouldn’t let herself fall for him, so it would be a simple matter of mind-set. All she had to do was keep him in the we’re-only-in-it-for-the-fun category.
“Come here.” He took her hand and pulled her out of sight of the sliding glass door.
Turning her so that her back was against the wall of the house, he cradled her cheeks and stared down at her. “We’re unfinished business, Cara.” He angled his head and lowered his mouth to hers. After kissing her senseless, he took her hand and put it on his chest, over his heart. “And this is why.”
She felt the rapid beat of his heart under her palm. Hers was pounding just as hard, and it was her first hint that it might not be so easy to keep her feelings for this man locked down.
“Do you see what you do to me?”
