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She lifted her head and finally looked at him. “It’s not me I’m worried about. They’re evil, Flynn. I can’t let them hurt anyone I care about.”
Her eyes were haunted and Flynn knew the fear was justified. Criminal organizations were known for their cruelty and ruthlessness.
“Will you let me try to help Tessa? Will you give us some time to figure this out? All of it?”
She studied him with serious eyes for a long moment. When she finally nodded, relief and victory filled him.
Now he just had to make sure they all stayed alive.
Chapter6
Can You Keep A Secret?
Tessa wondered if she’d lost her mind. She should be running. Well, actual running was beyond her ability level, but she should be already on the trail to the sawmill where she should jump in her car and drive without looking back.
Instead, she was holding onto Flynn and breathing in his strength right along with his scent. Her body had always reacted when Flynn was near. She’d even felt a warm shiver of awareness when she’d spotted the silhouettes on the dock, before she knew it was him.
He’d been such a good person when they were in high school. Hard-working, confident, friendly. He’d been an outstanding athlete in school and had excelled at rodeo.
Instead of being the stereotypical jock who acted superior, he’d been nice to everyone. They’d got to know each other over math problems and had become friends. She thought they’d maybe been edging toward more. Although that might have just have been her who’d been thinking about kisses and love.
Back then, she’d considered telling him what worried her about her family. Would that have changed anything? Impossible to know.
Finally, Tessa drew in another deep breath and nodded again. She was going to take a leap of faith and trust him. “I can’t promise to stay indefinitely, but if no one knows specifically where you are, you should be safe.”
He frowned down at her. “We.Weshould be safe.”
In the grand scheme of things, Tessa knew she didn’t matter much. She didn’t have family worrying about her, didn’t have people to mourn her if she died. Her grandfather might have ordered the explosion that had been aimed at killing her and her father and uncle. Tessa had no memories of her mother, but she hoped at least Rosa had loved her baby.
She’d been building a new family here at Midnight Lake over the past few weeks. She didn’t want to abandon this life, but she would if it kept them all safe. For now, she’d follow her heart and not her head.
She picked up the bag with the different identification cards and emergency phone in it. She shouldn’t have opened the secret space in front of him, but she’d planned on leaving. Although, if there was one person in the world she trusted, it was Flynn.
When she moved into the closet, she wasn’t surprised to find he followed her and peeked over her shoulder when she opened the secret panel.
“Very James Bond. I like it. Is it part of the original lodge, or did you do it?”
“I had Aisling make it for me.”
“That must have been fun for her. Not everyone gets the chance to make a secret room.”
Tessa smiled. “She loved doing it.” Although she’d been worried at the need, she hadn’t pestered her with questions when Tessa had said it was probably silly, but it would make her feel safer.
“Smart to make it big enough for you to be inside. I hope you haven’t had to use it.”
She shook her head. “No. If I had, I would have left as soon as it was safe.”
He nodded and his expression turned serious. “I’m glad you didn’t.”
She managed a small smile. “Me too.”
“I really did miss you, Tessa. I know this is a mess right now, but I’m so glad to see you again. I want to find a solution that doesn’t involve you leaving.”
So did she, but saying it aloud might jinx it.
A knock at the door had them both turning. Tansy’s voice called out softly. “Hey, Tessa. It’s me. Everything okay?”
Was it? She had no idea. Instead of saying that, she opened the door and smiled at her friend. “Hi. I’m okay.”
