Page 35 of Forbidden Secrets
“These two are small-time.My guess?Somebody hired them to make sure you knew you and Addy aren’t welcome here.”
Her face might have gone pale, but there was a fire in her eyes.
Sawyer stood with his hands on his hips.“Both have prison tats.We’ll run them and see if we can get them to talk.”
“They’ve already lawyered up,” Gage muttered.“They’re not giving us a goddamn thing.”
“Figures.”Sawyer tipped his head toward the door.“We’re wrapping up here.Keep your doors locked, Mel.Think about getting a security system.”
“I will.Thanks, Sawyer.”
He nodded and stepped out, leaving Gage alone with Melanie in the suddenly quiet kitchen.
He studied her.“You good?”
“No.What if you hadn’t seen them?What if Addy’d been here?”
He’d been asking himself the same damn thing.“Sawyer’s right, you need security.Residential’s not my specialty, but I know a guy who’s an expert.He’s a friend of Owen’s.He’ll put in a good system and give you peace of mind.I’ll call him.”
She hesitated.“I don’t want to live in a cage.”
“You won’t.Luke will set you up with a system that works with your lifestyle.”
Her sigh was heavy.“I hate this.Addy’s only six, Gage.I don’t want her to be afraid that there are people who would hurt her.”
“She doesn’t have to be afraid.You’re doing everything right.But I get what you’re saying.She’s got a sweetness she should never lose.”
Melanie nodded.“I’m not telling her what happened today.”
“Agreed.And about the security system?Let me reach out to Luke, work through the options.”
“I can call him.I hadn’t budgeted for security.It’ll mean reprioritizing my home improvement list.”
He jammed his hands in his pockets.“Mel, let me talk with him.This is what I do.I’ll work with him to figure out the best system.”
“Okay,” she sighed.“But I’m in on every step.This is my home, my kid.”
He nodded.Then his tone shifted.“If I’m right and those two were hired to rattle you, it means you coming back to Sisters made someone nervous.”
He wished he could ease the troubled look on her face.
“You think it’s connected to the assault on me?”
“It’s possible.Which lends credence to the theory the guy’s still around and worried you’ll remember something.”
Her expression reflected uncertainty.“What if moving here was a mistake?What if I’ve put Addy in danger?”
He stepped closer and cupped her shoulders.“You didn’t make a mistake.We’ll figure this out and I’ll make damn sure you and Addy are safe.”
“If you hadn’t seen them…” Her breath caught.“Gage, I don’t even want to think about what could’ve happened.Thank you.”
“You don’t owe me anything,” he said quietly.“But you’re welcome.”
He should have stepped back.Should’ve left it at that.Because once he acted, there’d be no going back.He wasn’t sure either of them was ready for what came next.
But he ignored the voice of caution and pulled her to his chest, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, his heart beating fiercely.
CHAPTER NINE
