Page 63 of Long Arm of the Cowboy

If they stayed together, eventually hewouldgo out and not come back.

Okay, shemighthave allowed her emotions to influence her actions, but the thought of Clay facing danger and her being miles and miles away from him, unable to help…

It overwhelmed her.

On the flip side, he made the choice to walk away from the op. Long ago, she realized she was only responsible for her own actions and feelings, not her mother’s, Andrew’s, anybody’s in the group home…or Clay Lexis’s.

The road extended like a black streak through the countryside. She had a good guess that he was taking her back to that first safehouse. She only hoped it had been stocked with more food since their last visit.

When had her life taken such a dark turn? One minute she was picking up a package from a guy, and the next she was on the run with a man she was…

Falling in love with.

Even though Lark was not the type of young girl to dream of weddings and dancing with her groom to “their song,” the revelation didn’t hit her as hard as she expected it to.

Yes, she could be infatuated. She sure was enthralled with his hard muscles, his kisses and everything he could do to her in bed. But now that the warehouse was miles behind them, she could analyze her freakout moment.

“I might have acted out of character back there.” Her quiet admission sounded as a loud whisper in the silence of the truck.

A long second passed. “How so?” he finally asked.

“I’ve never been emotional. My friends always said that I was perfect for a career in journalism because of how far I can remove myself from an event or the person I’m interviewing. But…” She nibbled her bottom lip. “That didn’t happen tonight.”

His throat worked on a swallow, the only movement he’d shown in half an hour on the road. “What do you think changed?”

Her throat burned with a thick, salty lump. “I think the thought of losing you terrifies me.”

His chest inflated, then fell as he released a slow breath. When he swung his head to pierce her in his gaze, she felt the impact more than saw the burn in his eyes.

“You should know something about me, Lark.”

The statement was equivalent to a slab of concrete landing on her chest.

“I’m listening.”

“You’re right that I don’t want to commit to a person.”

His words felt like a face punch, and she instinctively pressed her palm to her forehead.

He glanced from the road to her. “Do you want me to go on?”

“Yes.”

“I had a fiancée.”

Curiosity overtook her. What was this person like? Tall and thin? Blonde? She was definitely blonde. Prettyanda great cook.

“She was younger—years younger.” He looked at her again. “Like you, Lark. She fucked my best friend on the police force.”

Lark gasped sharply. “Who would ever cheat onyou? You’re so damn hot. You’ve got the body, the brains and the whole alpha male thing going for you.” She circled a hand in the air to encompass his whole body as a perfect package.

“Thanks, but none of that mattered. She was having an affair with him for about six months before I caught them. In our bed. In our place. With our cat watching.”

“Christ—the cat too? Damn.”

Whatever she said made his lips twist. Then he shocked her with a low chuckle.

“Oh god. What did I say? I know it’s the wrong thing. I didn’t mean to downplay your situation or pain, Clay.”

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