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“You’re gonna stay here?” He didn’t exactly want to leave with everything. Should he hug her?
“Gage.”
“Yeah?”
“What are you going to do now?”
“I have to go back to the office.” He moved to stand in front of her, but she didn’t get up. “But I’m glad you’re all right.” He reached out, tentatively so he’d know if it wasn’t okay, and touched the hair on the side of her face. Brushed it back with two fingers that lingered on her cheek. “I’m really glad you’re all right.”
Tears gathered in her eyes. “Am I?”
“What do you mean?” He didn’t like seeing her this rattled.
“Maybe I seem like I’m all right.” She gave him a teary smile. “Maybe it’s a front.”
“What do you need?”
Clare leaned into his touch for a second, then pulled back. “I’m going to ask my people to call you and let me just be here this afternoon. Okay?”
“You got it.” He had no problem running point if she wanted quiet. “Call me if you go anywhere, okay?” For all they knew, she could’ve been just as much a target as that Alex guy. “Be safe.”
Gage touched his lips to her forehead before he left.
NINETEEN
“Did they say anything else?”
Selena shook her head. “Just that they’d tell me when he’s out of surgery.”
Clare didn’t question why Selena seemed to be privy to Alex’s personal medical information but figured the young woman had told hospital staff they were engaged. She shifted on the hard chair and leaned her head back on the wall, her eyes closed. The bandaged arm had a dull ache to it. They’d given her a shot of something that numbed the pain and threatened to get her to nap even though it was barely three in the afternoon.
“I saw that cop go in your room.”
Clare didn’t open her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about him.” She could’ve called him Gage, or even Lieutenant Deluca. Either one would be telling. Selena was smart enough to notice whichever direction Clare decided to deflect this.
“Getting shot at was crazy.”
Clare opened her eyes then, so she could tell Selena she didn’t want to talk about this either. Then she saw the look in Kara’s daughter’s eyes. “It always is. No matter how many times it happens, you never really get used to it. You just get better at hiding the fear.”
“I always thought my mom had no fear.” Selena smoothed down the denim over her knee. “Then this one time, we were playing basketball at the park. The ball rolled onto the grass, and I ran to get it. This huge dog ran at me, snarling. She shoved me out of the way, and the owner guy pulled the dog off. She looked at me.” Selena sniffed. “I’ll never forget her face.”
Clare squeezed Selena’s hand, then let go.
“I should get some coffee.” Selena stood. “Want anything?”
“Same. Thanks.”
Selena left her sitting there. Head still against the wall, her behind going numb. The weight of past and present on her shoulders. She’d told Gage what happened. Maybe it hadn’t been the right time, but why drag it out any longer?
Now he knew the truth.
She’d honestly figured he would be angry about it. Or at least disappointed. Instead, he’d turned into this caring guy who reached out to comfort her. Even if he considered it a small way, it hadn’t felt small to her. That was the most physical affection she’d received in years. Not perfunctory, or a greeting. He’d done it because they shared something huge and painful between them.
Maybe anger would’ve been better. She found it more difficult to deal with the man he was now than if he got mad at her.
She’d been mad at herself for so long.
“Hey.”
