Cody Hogan’s gentle voice guided her back to the conversation. He sat in a chair across from her with a small notebook on the white table, a pen in hand.
“I’m sorry. I spaced out for a second. Did you ask me another question?”
He offered her a patient smile. “Did the man who attacked you look or sound familiar?”
She shook her head and circled her hands around the paper cup in front of her. Coffee was the last thing she’d needed earlier, but now she sipped the hot liquid like it was the answer to her prayers.
“Did he say anything to you?”
“Just not to do anything stupid.” The reminder of his warm breath on her neck as he spoke shot bile up her throat.
Cody’s smile morphed into a lopsided smirk that highlighted his chiseled jawline and made weird things happen to her stomach. “It’s a good thing you didn’t listen.”
She dropped her gaze to her cup. What the hell was wrong with her? Must be the flood of emotions whipping around inside of her because any kind of reaction to the man sitting in front of her was completely inappropriate.
Especially when that man was former bad boy Cody Hogan.
“I’ve never liked people telling me what to do.” She gave a casual shrug and tightened her mouth in a firm line so she wouldn’t match his smile with a grin of her own.
The door to the break room banged open and both of her brothers barged inside. Tommy wore his well pressed deputy uniform and his face was clean-shaven while Owen sported jeans and a T-shirt, dark scruff covering his face.
Owen marched straight to her and pulled her into a fierce hug. “Holy shit, are you okay?”
She melted against him, grateful for his presence. “I’m fine, just a little shaken.”
“Did he hurt you?” The hard edge of Tommy’s voice would have knocked her off balance, but she understood his fear.
Hell, their family had been dealt their fair share of hard knocks. First with losing their mother to a hit and run driver when they were younger, then Theo’s accident the year before. Her and her siblings knew how precious life was and how quickly it could be taken away.
She pulled away from Owen and squeezed Tommy’s arm. “No, he didn’t hurt me. Luckily Cody showed up in time to scare him off before things took a turn for the worse.”
Standing, Cody nodded. “Evening.”
“You get a good look at this asshole?” Owen barked.
“Not enough for an ID,” Cody said. “He was wearing a ski mask, hiding any distinguishing facial features. He was about four inches taller than Katherine, solid build, but couldn’t gauge a good read on what was under his jacket. He ran off after shoving Katherine.”
Tommy clenched his jaw. “You said you weren’t hurt.”
“I wasn’t,” she said. “Cody caught me before I hit the ground.” The memory of his hard body under hers and the way he’d wrapped her in his strong arms brought heat clashing against her cheeks. She really had to get a grip, especially in front of her brothers.
“I wanted to go after the attacker but thought it best to stay with Katherine. By the time I was able to get off the pavement, he was long gone. Disappeared into the woods.”
“Have you checked the security footage yet?” Owen asked.
“Not yet,” Cody said.
“And why the hell not?” Owen asked.
“Katherine just finished her statement. I wanted to get that first so she could get home to her son.” Not an ounce of disrespect dripped from Cody’s words, but it was clear he wouldn’t stand for being pushed around by anyone.
Not even his boss.
The color drained from Owen’s face, and he scrubbed a palm over his whiskers. “Christ. Ollie. Yeah, you should get home, Katherine. Tommy, can you take her?”
If she wasn’t sure of her brother’s good intentions, she would have bristled at the suggestion. “That’s very sweet, but I have my car in the lot. I can drive myself.”
“I’ll walk you to your car then follow you home.” Tommy folded his arms over his broad chest as if his word were law, no discussion needed.
