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“I was beginning to worry about you, Sally. Did you have trouble…or did you simply decide not to take my calls? If that’s the case, I’m glad to know you’ve come to your senses.” His was the same calm, undisturbed, nothing-wrong-in-my-world voice she remembered from the few times they’d spoken. She envied him.
Unfortunately, his detachment also ticked her off, and the crisp words that collected on her tongue wouldn’t be held in. “I’m happy this is all so easy for you, Greg. Exactly how many lives have you altered, rearranged or phased out? Have you ever once imagined yourself on the other side of the equation? To be the one leaving everything familiar behind? Alone. Uncertain. Always looking in the rearview mirror. Or is the reason you’re so good at your jobbecauseyou don’t give the people involved another thought after you go home?”
“I do exactly what needs to be done to do my job. When it’s all said and done, that’s what you want, isn’t it? I don’t have time to feel sorry for you. My pity won’t save your life, Sally.”
He was right—but so was she. They each had their jobs to do. Hers was to decide what was best for Jen…and she didn’t know how to make that decision.
“Where are you, Sally?” His tone was colder; his words more clipped. Apparently, her accusation had hit a sore spot.
Not her problem. “There’s someone else besides my daughter. I can’t leave him. Not yet anyway.”
“That’s not part of the deal. An extra person changes everything. It takes time to create another identity…get authorization…approval for funding. Those details don’t happen overnight, and we can’t afford to wait. You and your daughter are targets. That makes you the priority for relocation.”
“No. You misunderstood me. I’d never ask him to go into hiding with us. I just…I can’t disappear from his life. Not now.” Maybe not ever. She sighed, Luke’s instructions running through her mind. “I’m not ready to make a decision yet. I’m sorry I inconvenienced you.”
“Think about what you’re doing, Sally. This delay could cost your daughter her life. Are you prepared to accept the responsibility for that?”
His words wrenched a sob from her throat, and she covered her mouth so he wouldn’t realize the fear he’d struck in her soul. Luke’s quiet words came back to her, and she was finally able to swallow around the lump in her throat. “Marshal Lambert, I need time. I’ll contact you when we get to a safe place.” Sally disconnected the call before he could say another word, but it seemed certain she’d just stomped all over the good marshal’s willingness to help.
She stared at the dark screen of her phone for a moment before she turned it off and tossed it toward the end of the bed. It slid over the edge and hit the floor with a thud. She’d have given anything to curl into a ball, pull the covers over her head and stay there forever, but that wouldn’t change a thing.Don’t stop. She had to keep moving…for Jen. One step at a time.Get up. Get dressed.Never give up.Rather than giving in to the tears that ached to be shed, she was going to get mad—damn good and mad—because that was the only emotion strong enough to help her now.
When Luke and Jen returned a few minutes later, Sally was ready to go. She’d even found a belt in Luke’s bag that she was able to wrap around her waist loosely and buckle, giving her long shirt the respectability of a dress…albeit a very short dress. As long as she didn’t bend over, she’d be fine.
Luke’s dark eyes and low whistle telegraphed what he thought of her apparel, but she resisted the almost overwhelming urge to seek comfort in his arms. She was still apprehensive over her conversation with the marshal. Worried that she’d acted impulsively without thinking it through, she couldn’t stop the dread that settled like a slab of granite in her belly. She’d seen the curiosity in Luke’s expression. He deserved to know the outcome of Lambert’s phone call and what her decision had been. She’d expect to be informed if the situation was reversed.
Too bad. She wasn’t ready to evaluate whether she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life yet. Already hanging on to her determination by a thread, she’d surely lose her grip on her courage at the first sign of compassion or sympathy or Luke’s oh-shit-you-probably-shouldn’t-have-done-that frown.
As they were walking out the door, Luke spotted her cell phone where it had landed on the floor at the foot of the bed and went back to scoop it up. “Are you trying to ditch this on purpose?” His steady gaze held hers with a tinge of amusement while she made no attempt to take it from him. “You might need it again. I’ll hang on to it for you.” He winked as he shoved the device into his pocket and reached behind him to close the door.
Jen waited for them to catch up by the passenger side of the Jeep. Luke raised his hand and pressed a button on the electronic key. The sound of the vehicle unlocking was loud in the quiet parking lot. Jen opened the door and scrambled into the front seat.
Sally paused before stepping off the curb. “I don’t think he’ll be calling any time soon.”
Luke hadn’t asked, which heaped guilt on Sally for being silent about her conversation with Lambert. It wasn’t fair to keep it from Luke when he was as invested in their flight across the state as she was.
His expression immediately brightened. “Yeah? You’re sticking with me, then?” The intensity of his rich brown eyes could be felt clear to her core.
“I told him I’d call when we got somewhere safe, but yeah, I’m sticking with you…if you’ll have me.”
Luke grinned as he took her arm and turned her toward him. “Damn, woman. I’d have you for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you’d let me.” He glanced toward the Jeep’s windshield, where Jen peered out. Laughing, he shook his head. “And if there weren’t always little eyes watching. How do you ever get any privacy?”
Sally shrugged, his question doing a tap dance on her nerves, even though it was obvious he was teasing. She was supersensitive where her daughter was concerned—she knew it—and she didn’t care. “It hasn’t been a problem until now.” She stepped off the curb, stopping when Luke’s hand tightened on her arm.
“It’s not a problem now, Sally. That’s not what I meant.”
She pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling the start of yet another headache, and raked it from front to back through her hair. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m so agitated.” A small puff of breath punctuated her words. “You don’t deserve that.”
Luke caught her with his other arm around her waist and dragged her close. “I think I know why, sunshine. You’ve taken some serious hits in the last few hours.” His lips tickled her ear as he whispered, “But it won’t always be that way. We’ll figure this out. I promise. Let me carry some of your burden. Hell, I’ll carry all of it if you’ll let me.”
Sally bumped her forehead against his solid chest. “Are we being watched?”
“Yep. Her whole face is pressed against the windshield.” Luke chuckled, his broad shoulders vibrating with mirth.
She raised her head, caressing his cheek with slow strokes of her fingers. “I guess she’ll just have to get used to us kissing and holding hands, then.”
Luke’s eyes widened and a smile curled his lips. “I like the way you think.” He wrapped both arms around her, pulling her so tightly against him, she could feel the rapid beat of his heart.
Their lips met and heat worked its way slowly from her head to the pit of her stomach. Desire hit her hard, and she had to lean against him to keep from collapsing. When he broke the kiss, she clung desperately to him, sure her legs would give out if they were forced to support her. Luke wore a contented look as he nibbled at the corners of her mouth and kissed her eyes and nose.
