She looked away. “Because I do.”
“Not a good enough reason.”
“You’ve learned to cope.” She finally met his gaze. “I haven’t.”
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, his body tense, alert. “What do you mean you haven’t?”
She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. “Nothing.” She forced a smile. “Never mind. Like you said, it’s not important. I don’t want to go back there.”
“Go back there? Go back where?” His frown deepened and he studied her. She could feel his gaze piercing, probing, trying to read her.
“Drop it.” She shuttered her expression and gave him a tight smile. “I’m hungry now.”
He gave a slow nod. “I can do something about that.”
[8]
Saturday evening
5:00 PM
Riley stared at the computer screen. The words blurred and she rubbed her eyes. She checked her phone and grimaced, then shoved the device away and focused back on the screen. Then reached for her phone again. With a groan, she gave up and lowered her forehead to her arms.
Something dropped onto the desk next to her and she looked up to find Olivia nearby and a bag of M&Ms next to the keyboard. “Chocolate,” she breathed.
“Katie texted and said you could use some.”
“And you just happened to have a bag in your pocket?”
Olivia snickered. “In my purse. It’s sort of a joke we’ve started. Haley’s never without some and it’s not pretty if she runs out. So we all carry a stash just in case. Katie texted and said she promised you chocolate and I should deliver.”
“You guys are simply amazing.” Riley opened the bag and poured out a handful. “I think I want to work for you one day if this is how you treat your employees.”
Olivia laughed. “We’re all equal partners in this business, but yes, we definitely try to take care of one another.” Her smile faded. “You okay?”
“Sure. I’m just peachy.”
“Worried about your uncle?”
“Yes. A lot. Are you sure he’s okay?”
“Katie said he was fine. Didn’t he text you?” Olivia’s gaze went to the television Riley had turned on only moments ago.
“Yes, a couple of times.” She popped several of the pieces of candy in her mouth and savored the chocolaty sweetness. Her attention, however, was on the television. The media still reported from her uncle’s restaurant, but the fact that the scrolling marquis stated no one had been hurt allowed her to breathe easier. “But—” she shrugged, then glanced back at the computer and sighed.
Her phone buzzed and she checked the screen. A text from Beth. Her hope deflated. As much as she loved her friend, it wasn’t Beth she was so hoping to hear from.
Are you going to church in the morning? Kyle and I can save you a seat.
Probably not. Crazy stuff going on.
I saw the news. Is Daniel okay?
Yes.
Okay. TTYL.
Riley set the phone aside once again and glanced at Olivia. “Do you go to church?”
“Yes. What about you?”
“I sometimes go with my grandmother when she’s in town or I go with Beth, my best friend. We all go to Riverland Community Church. They have a pretty good youth group there. But since she’s started dating Kyle, I feel kind of like a third wheel, if you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I know what you mean. I feel your pain on that one. Not so much anymore now that I’ve met Wade, but . . . yeah. What about your uncle? Doesn’t he go with you?”
“Uncle Daniel doesn’t go to church.”
“Why not?”
“I think he’s mad at God because my parents were killed by a drunk driver and God didn’t do anything to stop it.”
Olivia grimaced, then nodded. “That’s understandable.”
“Yeah, but—” She shrugged.
“But you’re not mad at him? God, I mean.”
Riley sighed. “I was at first. Kind of. But God didn’t make the man get drunk, then drive. That man chose to do that. Isn’t that the whole purpose of free will?”
Olivia blinked. “Yes, I guess it is.”
“I know God could have stopped it but . . . he didn’t.”
“And you can accept that?”
Riley frowned. “What choice do I have? Unless I want to be angry and bitter my whole life, I have to believe that there’s a reason it happened.”
“That’s mighty mature thinking. It’s pretty amazing that you’ve arrived at that place of peace.”
Riley gave a wry smile. “Maybe so. But I didn’t get there easily. It helps that I know God’s motives are good even when he allows bad things to happen.” She ran a hand through her dark hair. “I’ve had a lot of time to think and grieve, and I’ll admit that I sometimes yell at God for letting it happen, but for the most part, I’m at peace with it.” She sighed. “And besides, it’s what my parents taught me. They loved God with their whole hearts. If I reject him or hate him or whatever, then I’m rejecting them, discounting everything that they lived for. And I just can’t do that.” Olivia blinked like she was clearing tears from her eyes and Riley shifted. “Sorry, didn’t mean to preach.”
“No, not at all. I love that you’re so free with sharing your heart. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Riley laughed, feeling self-conscious now. “But I was thinking that if Uncle Daniel is going to have people trying to kill him, he probably needs to work out this whole anger-at-God thing he has going on. Just in case.”
“Honey, if your uncle loves God, he’s still going to heaven. Even if he happens to die while he’s mad at him. God’s big enough to shoulder that. And forgive.”
Riley sighed. “I know. In my head I know that. But my heart wants him to let go, to find peace with it. I don’t want him to die—”
“We’re doing everything we can to make sure that he doesn’t die.”
“I know that too. And I appreciate it.”
“What else are you worried about?” Olivia asked.
Riley studied her for a moment. “It’s kind of scary how you do that.”
“What?”
“Read me so well. Katie can do it too.”
Olivia gave her a brief smile. “It’s part of our training. Well? Are you going to tell me?”
“Sure, why not?” Riley shrugged. “It’s this project for school.” She frowned. “Or rather, trying to decide which project I want to do. We have these things called internships. They last for two weeks. I have so many interests, it’s hard to choose. The good news is, I’ve narrowed it down. The bad news is, I’ve narrowed it down.”
Olivia gave a low chuckle. “Narrowed it down to two choices and you’re stuck?”
Riley nodded. “Yes. My uncle’s friend, Martin, wants me to work with him. Which might be pretty cool because I’m completely fascinated by archaeology, history, and, you know, old stuff, but I also have the choice to go to Mexico to learn about marine biology.”
“Those are two pretty amazing opportunities. I can see why you’re conflicted. You’ve got a tough decision.”
“Tell me about it.”
“What about flying? I hear you’re good at that.”
Riley bit her lip. “I love to fly. It’s like an escape. When I’m in the sky, I’m free, you know? No pressure, no worries, just me and the plane and God.” She tilted her head back and closed her eyes for a moment, letting herself remember the feel of being in flight, being in control, and just . . . being. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Olivia. “But I don’t want to do that for a job. I want to keep that as something personal and private. My own special thing.”
Olivia smiled and sipped her coffee. “I get that. So which do you prefer? Digging in the dirt or swimming in the ocean?”
Riley gave a soft laugh, grateful for the woman’s presence. It made it easier to not give in to the worry clamoring inside her. “Good question. Unfortunately, the answer is both.”
“When do
you have to decide?”
“By tomorrow. If I send in my decision now, I can start with Martin as early as Tuesday. If I choose to go to Mexico, that internship starts later.” She groaned, pressed her palms against her eyes, and sighed. “Okay. I can’t do this another day.” She sat up straight. “I’m going to choose.” She hovered the mouse over Mexico and lifted her finger, ready to tap the track pad. Then glanced at her cell phone, thought about her uncle. She shook her head. “I’m going digging in the dirt, I guess.” She made the selection and pressed submit. “There. It’s done.” Her friends would call her crazy for not choosing Mexico. And frankly she wasn’t sure she wouldn’t agree with them.
“How do you feel?”
She lifted a brow and thought about it. “Relieved.”
“Relieved you made a decision or relieved you’re going digging?”
“Just relieved.”
“Then it was probably the right decision.”
“Yeah.” She smiled at the woman. “I think it was.” At least she hoped so. She’d definitely prayed about it enough. And while her reasons for wanting to stay in town for the internship might not be particularly altruistic, they weren’t wrong either. She picked up her phone. “I’m going to text Martin and let him know.”
She fired off the text about the same time she heard the garage door start to rise. Olivia slipped from the den and Riley rose to follow the woman to the kitchen door. “That should be Uncle Daniel.”
Olivia glanced at her phone. “Yes.”
“Katie was supposed to talk to him today about hiring you guys. Do you think she did?”
“Probably.”
Uncle Daniel stepped into the kitchen and stopped when he saw her and Olivia. “Hi, guys.”
“Hi,” Olivia said.
Katie stepped in behind him and Riley caught her eye. She smiled, but it was tense and tight. Riley saw something drip onto the floor. She homed in on the source, which turned out to be Katie’s knee. “Hey, you’re bleeding.”
Katie looked down. Surprise lifted her brow. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“I’ll get the first aid kit.” Riley shook her head. “You people need a keeper.”
Katie immediately tuned in to the pain in her knee now that her attention had been drawn to it. How had she missed it on the drive over to Daniel’s house? In spite of the throbbing, she bit back a soft chuckle. As tired and on edge as she was, Riley could still make her smile.
It worked on Daniel too. His lips turned up a fraction as his niece headed out of the kitchen.
“A keeper, huh?” Katie asked as she finally gave in to the pain and moved to the table to sit in the nearest chair.
“She’s a mother hen at heart. She can’t help it.”
Katie rolled her pants leg up and examined the gash. A flap of skin rolled to the side and she grimaced. “Ugh.”
Daniel grunted. “That looks pretty nasty.”
“Thanks.”
He knelt in front of her and cupped her calf in his palm. “Looks like you could use a stitch or two.” The heat of his hand on the back of her leg distracted her, momentarily silencing her. He looked up. “Did you hear me?”
“Uh, yeah. A stitch or two.” She cleared her throat. Really? After inhabiting the dating desert for the past two years, she was going to choose this man to be attracted to? Not smart. “I can do it.”
“You’re going to stitch it?”
She grimaced. “Well, I could if I had the appropriate tools. In the meantime, I’ll just take some antibiotic cream and a Band-Aid.”
For a moment he looked suitably impressed, then shook his head. “You’ve got a hunk of skin hanging off. I’ll do it.”
“You? You were a detective, not a medic.”
“I’m a Marine. I’ve been on active duty.” He scowled. “I’ve stitched a wound or ten.”
Riley returned with the first aid kit and passed it to Daniel. She looked at Katie. “It’ll only hurt a little. Trust me, I speak from experience.”
“He’s stitched you up?”
“Yep, when I dropped the steak knife and it landed in my foot.”
Katie winced at the visual. “Ah.” She’d wondered about the scar on the teen’s foot but had never asked.
Riley grimaced. “I try not to remember about how bad that hurt. But the ER doc said Uncle Daniel did as good a job as he’d seen and just put me on an antibiotic.”
“I’m sure he’d do a great job.” She gestured to her knee. “But I think I’ll just take the bandage. If I decide it needs a stitch, I’ll get it looked at later.”
“Whatever you want,” Daniel said.
What she wanted was some distance. Her feelings for this man were tumbling all over the place and it had her off-kilter. She didn’t like being off-kilter. She stayed still and watched him.
He opened the first aid kit and pulled out the box of Band-Aids. He then went to the sink, scrubbed his hands, and returned to clean and close the wound. He covered it with the cream and bandaged it. Blood started to seep through, but she ignored it.
“How’s that?”
“Perfect, thanks.” Her voice sounded slightly breathless to her. She hoped if anyone noticed, they attributed it to the pain.
He looked doubtful. “You’re going to need another bandage before long.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Doesn’t it hurt?” Riley asked.
“Yes, it definitely does now. I’d rate it a five on a scale of one to ten. Can’t believe I didn’t notice it until you mentioned it.”
“Adrenaline,” the teen said wisely. She popped the top on a bottle and shook two pills into her hand. She passed them to Katie. “Ibuprofen. I’ll get you some water.”
“Don’t bother.” Katie downed them dry and pulled the damaged pants leg down over the bandage. “Thanks.” She stood and winced. “I’m going to head home, but I promise to come back tomorrow and see if I can find someone who might have noticed the person in the car last night. I meant to do that earlier, but I’ve been a little distracted.” She pulled her phone from the clip on her side. “On the way over here, I got a text from Quinn. He said the vehicle that was parked out front belongs to someone named Jake Thomas.”
“Jake?” Riley exclaimed.
“That’s my neighbor,” Daniel said. “He drives a dark blue two-door Jeep Wrangler.”
Katie lifted a brow. “And I drive a black one.”
“Which would make it impossible to distinguish one from the other at night. But Jake lives next door and always parks it in his driveway, not across the street.”
“That wasn’t Jake in there last night,” Riley said. She frowned. “At least I don’t think so. I seriously thought it was you.”
Katie reached for the door. “We’ll figure it out.” She nodded to Olivia. “Thanks for your help.”
“My pleasure. I asked Haley if she could cover the rest of the evening if you needed someone because I need to head out. Wade, Amy, and I are taking his boat out on the lake for a late dinner and star-gazing. I promised to be there.” Wade was Olivia’s fiancé and Amy her soon-to-be stepdaughter. “Charlie can cover some too, but Lizzie is tied up until tomorrow morning. She can help after that.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I assume you’re going to be here for the duration?” Olivia asked.
Katie slid a look at Daniel. “I think the jury’s still out on that one. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something.”
“Gotcha.” She looked at Daniel. “Be careful. Don’t take unnecessary chances, and accept help when it’s offered.”
He smiled. “Noted.”
Olivia left and Katie watched her slip into her car. She sat there until another vehicle pulled in behind her. Haley Callaghan, formerly with Ireland’s G2, the country’s national security agency, had come on board with Elite Guardians after she and Olivia had become friends at the bodyguard school. Haley didn’t talk much about her past, but every now and then she’d
let a little something slip and Katie knew it was painful for her. So Katie didn’t ask. The woman was good at what she did and that was all that mattered in the long run.
The fourth member of their team, Maddy McKay, a former special agent with the FBI, was still recovering from an attempt on her life less than three months ago. She’d be ready to return soon, though, and Katie would be glad to have her friend back at work. Until then, they were making do with Charlie, Olivia’s brother, and Lizzie as contract help.
Haley got out of her car and headed toward them. “Glad you could make it,” Katie said.
Haley’s eyes narrowed. “My vacation was last week. I’m ready for something.”
Katie led her inside and introduced her to Daniel and Riley. Daniel looked bemused. “What is it?” Katie asked.
His gaze bounced from Katie to Haley and back to Katie. “Have I hired you and your agency?”
She paused, locked eyes on Riley, then turned back to him. “No, Riley did.”
“Riley doesn’t have any money.”
Riley’s face went red. “Uncle Daniel! Thanks a lot.”
Katie slid an arm around Riley’s shoulders and frowned at the man. “Sometimes the job is about more than money.”
“And besides,” Riley said, “I do have money. I have the money from my parents’ life insurance policies, and if I have to spend every dime of it to make sure nothing happens to you, I’ll do it.”
The room fell silent. Daniel took two steps toward his niece and wrapped her in a tight hug. When he looked up and met Katie’s eyes, the tough sheen that was usually there was gone. In its place was a vulnerability she instinctively knew he didn’t show most people.
He cleared his throat. “Guess you’re officially hired.” He kissed the top of his niece’s head. “Keep your money, Princess, I’ve got this one covered.”
[9]
He slammed the door and ordered himself to get a grip. He’d shot him. He knew he had. But Daniel had popped up like he’d been hit by a water balloon, not a bullet.
His hands shook as he poured himself a shot of vodka. Then another. Okay. Whatever. He’d managed to accomplish his goal. The restaurant was closed for now. Daniel’s attention would be on the North Lake rebuild. All was good. It didn’t matter that Daniel wasn’t in the hospital or dead. At least not yet. But his do-gooder bleeding heart had accomplished what personal threats wouldn’t. As long as he thought his family or his employees, customers, whoever, were in danger, he’d do whatever it took to keep them safe. Including shutting down his restaurant.
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