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His blunt words clearly upset her further. She looked ready to explode. Or implode. “I’m no help to you here,” she argued. “I’m the only one who can draw him out.”
Graham’s face reddened. “Absolutely not. We don’t need you as bait. Bridger and his team are turning over every rock looking for this creep. So’s half the intelligence community. Give it time.”
He reached across the table, gripping her wrist. “Having you here, seeing you safe...it allows us all to work harder to end this. If you go back, we’ll have to spend all our time and resources protecting you instead of hunting him.”
Tenaya stared down at his broad hand engulfing her slender wrist. Tai could tell she was struggling between emotion and logic. He willed her to make the smart choice and stay put.
But today wasn’t going his way, apparently.
Tenaya flung off her father’s hand. “How dare you imply I’m being selfish. If anyone knows about selfishness, it’s you.”
Graham reared back as if she’d struck him.
Before he could respond, she stormed out the front door into the fading twilight.
On instinct, Tai started after her. They couldn’t let her wander off alone with a killer hunting her. Even on their secure property.
But Graham grabbed his arm, face bleak. “Let her go. She’s got a point.”
Tai ached for his mentor. “You’re only trying to protect her.”
“Doesn’t feel that way.” Graham moved to the window, staring after his daughter’s retreating figure. Her dark silhouette was barely visible against the darkening peaks.
Tai’s chest tightened. He couldn’t fix the past for his friend, however much he wished to. All he could do was try to make the future better.
With a determined look at Bridger and Mason, he headed out after Gunny’s hothead of a daughter.
12
An evening breeze flowed down from the high mountains to the west, ruffling Tenaya’s hair. The sharp, cool air washed over her, penetrating the thin fabric of her tee. Too bad it couldn’t cool her anger. Body rigid with fury, she stared down the sharp ridges of the Sierra crest, the tall mountains like a black cutout against the darkening cobalt sky. Her chest heaved and her cheeks burned with embarrassment. Is that what her father thought of her? A heartless, clueless lawyer concerned only with her own needs?
She paced the gravel driveway, kicking loose rocks viciously, as the front door closed with a quiet snick behind her. At home, she never would have heard the soft sound over the constant hum of traffic.
Heavy boots crunched on the stones. Tai strode toward her, radiating heat that cut through the quickly chilling night air. Tenaya crossed her arms, hugging herself for both warmth and protection. As if anything could protect her from this mountain of a man.
She refused to turn, to acknowledge his approach. Let him think her petty and ridiculous. What did it matter? She was the outsider here.
The scuff of his booted steps sounded just behind her. When he spoke, his deep voice was unexpectedly gentle. “It’s freezing out here. Come on back inside.”
Tenaya hunched a shoulder against the cold. And against the kindness in his tone that she absolutely did not deserve.
“I’m fine,” she muttered. The lie sounded pathetic even to her own ears. Fine? Nothing in her life was remotely fine.
The mountains faded to ghostly silhouettes as the last of the light leeched from the sky. Finally, he said simply, “You left your sweatshirt.”
Tenaya turned, glimpsing the bulky garment draped over his arm. Her defiance wavered. The thought of hunkering into its warmth was so tempting...
Before she could weaken further, he stepped closer holding it out. The lingering heat from his body enveloped her.
Tenaya snatched it, embarrassment rising as she slipped her arms into the sleeves. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stormed out like that.”
“Cut yourself a break. It’s been a rough few days.”
His eyes were dark pools in the dim light. Tenaya’s pulse quickened under his steady regard. Despite the fact that he’d made no effort to disguise his dislike, the man saw far too much.
His perceptiveness only added to her feelings of fragility.
She dropped her gaze. “I made it rougher by lashing out. That was unfair to Graham.”
