WHO CAN SHE TRUST?

Alyssa Wells has uncovered evidence that her police officer husband was murdered by his partner—a dangerous claim in a small town. After two tours in Iraq, protecting Alyssa and her children shouldn’t be a problem for private investigator Cole Justice. Alyssa feels drawn to him, but how can she trust anyone after everything she’s been through? Cole’s sure his heart is closed off to love, but Alyssa and her children seem to have found a way in. As the killer draws closer, Alyssa realizes she’s trusting Cole with more than her safety.

The Justice Agency: Family and law enforcement go hand in hand

“You’re too close to the windows,” Cole said softly as if he understood everything going through her mind and didn’t want to intrude, but needed to keep her safe.

Alyssa looked up at him and for the first time she really understood the law enforcement mentality. Police officers were strong protectors and they always wanted to be ready to help. Even being married to an officer for seven years, she hadn’t really felt the weight of the burden they bore until this dangerous situation invaded her life.

She glanced at the black wall of windows Cole had warned her away from. “Guess you’re wishing you’d rented a house with fewer windows.”

“I have to admit it would be easier,” he said with steel in his voice. “But I’m not going to let these windows stop me. I’ll do everything within my power to protect you, even if it means giving up my life.”

She knew he spoke the truth and she feared before all of this was over, he would have to choose between protecting her and putting his life on the line.

SUSAN SLEEMAN

grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today she channels this enthusiasm into hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com and writing romantic-suspense and mystery novels.

Much to her husband’s chagrin, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder-and-mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. To learn more about Susan, please visit www.SusanSleeman.com.

No Way Out

Susan Sleeman

www.millsandboon.co.uk

MILLS & BOON

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You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

—Isaiah 26:3

For my sister and brother, Linda and Jeff Becker, the siblings in my life who inspired me to write about the dynamics of the Justice family.

Additional thanks to

My family: my husband, Mark, who willingly makes sacrifices so I can devote my time to writing; my daughter Emma who helps me work through plot issues and Erin for her graphic design expertise.

My patient, sweet and talented editor, Tina James. Thank you for continuing to have faith in my writing.

The very generous Ron Norris—retired police officer with the LaVerne Police Department—who gives of his time and knowledge in both police procedures as well as military information. Thank you for always answering my questions so thoroughly and so promptly. You go above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough! Any errors in or liberties taken with the technical details Ron so patiently explained to me are all my doing.

And most importantly, thank you God for my faith and for giving me daily challenges to grow closer to you.

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

DEAR READER

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

ONE

A storm was coming.

Alyssa Wells slowed and glanced across the road at waves angrily pounding the deserted Oregon beach. A sudden movement on the jogging path below caught her attention. Nearly finished with her run, she looked down at a clearing where hikers often stopped to gaze over the ocean.

But not at this time of night. Not with ominous clouds building over the horizon.

Angry voices swirled out of the soupy fog that had rolled in with the setting sun. The harsh words cut through the night and wound their way up the hill. She stopped in surprise when she recognized one of the voices as that of Nolan Saunders, her neighbor and her deceased husband’s partner on the Pacific Bay police force.

What was Nolan doing out here with a storm on its way?

She recalled that he was on duty tonight—he must have responded to a call here. No matter—she needed to get home to her twins before the clouds burst. She continued ahead on the trail, grateful for tiny solar lights mounted on wooden landscape beams that cast a dull light over her feet and kept her path unobscured.

“You’re in too deep to walk away, Gibson.” Nolan’s raised voice, now sharp and clear, sent a whisper of unease down her back, and she came to a stop directly above them. She could make out the shadows of three men. The “Gibson” Nolan talked to must be fellow officer Frank Gibson, but who was the third guy?

“C’mon, Saunders, I have to get out,” Frank said, sounding desperate.

Nolan stepped closer, and Alyssa saw him stab his finger into Frank’s chest. “That’s not gonna happen, pal. Once a meth dealer, always a meth dealer.”

Meth? Her husband, Todd, had died on the job from a fatal gunshot to the chest, but the resulting investigation found meth in his blood. They also linked him to a meth distribution ring, and he’d been branded a dirty cop.

Had Todd worked with Nolan and Frank to distribute drugs? Was the whole Pacific Bay police force dirty?

“You came to me, remember?” Nolan continued. “Said you needed the money.”

“That’s because Danny was sick.” Alyssa had been praying for Frank’s son in his battle with leukemia. “Now that he’s in remission we’re caught up on our bills and I want out.”

“See, here’s the problem.” Nolan moved closer to Frank. “There was no time limit on our association. You said you were with us for the long haul. Now a few of our dealers are busted and you want to run home to mama. Too bad. You belong to me now.”

“Just let me walk away, man,” Frank pleaded. “I don’t want to go to jail, but I can’t live with the guilt anymore. I’ll turn you in if that’s my only way out.”

“What makes you think I’ll let you rat us out?” Nolan’s volume had dropped, but it held twice the threat. “There’re other options if you decide to bail.”

“Like what?” Frank paused, and she could imagine him glaring at Nolan. “Fine. You’re too chicken to say it so I will. I’ll end up a homicide statistic and framed as a drug dealer just like Todd.”

“Just like Todd. Dead and buried,” Nolan answered. “But in your case there won’t be a need to frame you.”

Oh my goodness, Todd!

Nolan said “framed.” Maybe her husband hadn’t been dirty. Maybe he’d found out about the meth operation and threatened to report Nolan. Then Nolan had killed Todd and framed him.

Nausea rose up her throat followed by a rush of anger. She considered Nolan a friend. He’d been there for her since Todd was murdered. Had let her and her seven-year-old twins live in one side of his duplex rent free. Helped her care for the children, becoming like a brother to her and an uncle to them.

She wanted to climb down the hill and confront him. She took a step.

No. She couldn’t. If what Nolan said was true, he was dangerous. A murderer! She had to get out of here before he discovered her. Once she was away from him, she could take her time to figure out what to do.

The men continued to argue as she set off slowly for fear of making any noise. She made it a few feet when a blustery wind pummeled her body, knocking her off balance. She tried to right herself, but her foot caught on a rock, and she tumbled onto her hands and knees, smacking into the path with an audible thud.

“Someone’s here,” Nolan said in that deadly-calm voice. “On the upper path.”

“You think they heard us?” the third man asked.

“I don’t know, but we’re not taking any chances,” Nolan said. “Get ’em.”

Barely able to see through the thickening fog, Alyssa pushed to her feet. With the tiny landscape lights as her only guide, she ran. Hard and fast. Each step sent her heart beating faster. Powerful winds threatened to take her down, but she kept her footing and continued.

She heard heavy footfalls pounding on the path below her. They were heading in the same direction—toward the downtown parking lot holding her car. They were a bit behind her, but Nolan’s long legs would catch her in no time.

She picked up speed. Sharp pellets of rain assaulted her face, soaking her lightweight running jacket and weighing her down.

The storm was upon them. Full force now. Raging and angry. She was struggling to get through the wind gusts and driving rain but took comfort from the knowledge that they would be struggling, too.

She heard footfalls growing closer. Thud, thud, thud—they pounded on the soft soil that sucked at her feet. She fought hard to stay on course for the main road.

No. Don’t go there. That’s where they’d have parked their cars.

She had to think defensively. It would be too easy for them to catch her on the open road.

She took a leap and plunged into the ditch ahead of them. She slogged through waist high grass, the sharp blades slicing into her hands. She raised them high.

“He’s in the ditch. Get him,” Nolan called out to his buddies.

Good, he thought she was a man, which meant her identity was safe. If she managed to outrun them.

She kept going, her side hitching and her body begging to stop. Her pace faltered, and she slowed. The faces of her precious twins flashed in her mind. She had to make it out of here for them. She moaned with pain but pumped her legs harder. Her muscles burned but the ground disappeared behind her and the sound of her assailants finally fell off.

Stopping, she filled her lungs with air and listened.

Silence. Nothing but blessed silence, save the howling wind and brutal rain.

They wouldn’t have given up. They’d probably gone to get their cars.

If she kept going while they backtracked, she had a chance to escape before they figured out her identity. But where should she go?

She searched the area. The beach.

Yes, that’s it.

They couldn’t follow her there in their cars.

Lungs still screaming for air, she kicked into gear again. When she saw no traffic, she crossed the road, barreling down the hill and onto the sand. She heard sirens swirling closer and then stopping on the road behind her.

No! They must have seen the direction she’d headed. She was too far away for them to identify her for now, but they would soon be tracking her on foot again. Her worst nightmare was coming true. They’d catch her and her children would be orphans.

She wouldn’t let that happen. She raced toward the icy water and paralleled the shore, letting pounding waves erase her footprints. She hoped by the time they parked their car and made it down to the water that she’d be far enough away and they wouldn’t be able to see the direction she’d run.

Cold sliced up her legs and tightened her muscles. She wanted to crumple onto the sand, but her only hope was to take shelter in her favorite spot. She often took her morning run along the softly flowing tides then sat on an outcropping of rocks and watched the waves, wishing for things that could never be. Things she thought she’d attain by the time she turned thirty-two but had remained elusive in her life.

Tonight, instead of wishing, she could rest there and make a plan. Very few people knew about her spot, and she would be safe.

She heard raised male voices behind her, and she wrenched around to look. She couldn’t see the men yet but feared they’d found her.

“Father, please let me make it. For the children.” Her words evaporated in the swirling storm that was picking up in intensity.

She had to reach the rocks. Just had to, before they tracked her down and fired a bullet in her heart as they’d done to Todd.

* * *

Cole Justice pushed away hair plastered against his forehead and looked over the pounding surf. A big storm was on its way in from the Pacific, and he’d climbed a large boulder—the highest point on the beach—to watch. Foolhardy move, he was sure. The rocks were slippery and the night dark, but he liked it best in the dark these days. Away from the concerned stares of his family. Away from the constant self-recriminations.

As he stared at the angry sea, the clouds parted and the moon highlighted the beach. He saw someone moving in the hazy mist. Odd. He’d figured he was the only one foolish enough to brave the spitting rain in a winter storm on the Oregon coast.

The tall figure raced along the water’s edge, glancing back every so often as if someone was in pursuit. The “danger” instincts, honed during his second tour of duty in Iraq, sprang into full alert and he felt apprehensive, as if a threat waited in the wings to take him down.

He tried to squelch it, but there it was, burning in his gut. He’d been home for two years now and it still lingered.

Always on alert. Always watchful. Always uneasy.

He checked to make sure his weapon was still tucked in the back of his jeans and ready if he needed it. Even if he wasn’t a private investigator, he was a former deputy marshal and like most former law enforcement officers, he carried all the time. Right now, he was glad he did. Something wasn’t right about the figure moving closer.

Long, lithe, agile. A woman? Out here tonight?

He lifted his hand against the driving rain and stared. Yeah, it was a woman. She raced toward him with graceful strides, but he lost sight of her at the base of his rocky fortress jutting into the water. Though he didn’t have a visual on her, his sniper training taught him to be still and pay attention. The sixth sense warned him that she was climbing up the face toward him.

Man, was she in for a surprise when she found him up here.

Question was, when did he let her know of his presence? If he called out to her now she could lose her focus and fall. If he waited until she got to the top and she startled backward, the fall would be fatal.

Her head popped over the rock and even in the rain, he could see her concentration. He needed to wait before saying anything.

She pulled up and fell on her stomach, dragging in huge gulps of air.

“Not a good night for a run,” he said as calmly as he could, bracing his legs against the rocks should she decide to attack and dislodge him from his perch.

She rolled and came to her knees, her arms outstretched in a defensive posture.

“Relax,” he added. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

She didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

“You can trust me,” he said from his position on the ledge. “I’m not here to hurt you. I’m renting a house up the beach, and I came out to watch the storm.”

She still didn’t back away, but she glanced to her right before flattening herself on the rock again. He looked down the beach in the direction she’d checked and spotted two bulky figures heading their way. She was being chased. And now she’d put him in danger, too.

He slowly eased to his knees, keeping his head low and sliding onto the rock next to her. She turned her head and locked eyes with him.

“What’re you doing?” she hissed.

“I was a sitting duck on that ledge,” he whispered back. With no more than twelve inches between them, he could finally get a good look at her face. Fine boned. High cheeks and forehead. Went well with the lithe figure he saw running. And despite her mad dash down the beach, a hint of her sweet perfume lingered. So sweet he almost forgot that two men were coming after her. Almost.

“Care to fill me in on what’s going on here?” he asked.

She lay motionless for a moment before she took in a deep breath. “No time. The men after me are killers.”

“Are they trying to kill you?”

“Maybe. I’m not sure.” She sounded so sad that it broke his heart. Something he didn’t think it was capable of doing anymore. “I overheard them talking about illegal activities they’re involved in. Now I think they want to kill me so I can’t tell anyone what I heard.”

Male voices mixed with the wind. They were coming closer. He held his finger to his lips but took the time to search her face for any duplicity. All he saw besides large eyes ringed with long lashes was fear. Raw and fresh. Even if she wasn’t telling him the truth about what had happened, it was clear she was afraid of these men.

“I don’t see anyone, Gibson,” a deep voice rumbled from below. “We don’t even know if the person came down to the beach. It’s freaking cold out here, and we should call it quits.”

“Quit being such a baby.” The second man’s voice was higher, more nasal.

The woman started shivering, and her lips quivered. Cole wore a slicker over a thick parka, but her lightweight jacket was plastered against her body. He wanted to draw her against him for warmth, but he couldn’t risk her decking him and signaling their location to the men below.

“Maybe Saunders was wrong and no one heard us.”

“You want to be the one to tell him that?” That high voice went even higher.

The other guy snorted. “Not if I want to live.”

“That’s what I figured. C’mon. We’ll keep going. If we don’t find someone in thirty minutes we’ll quit.”

Cole would give the men time to move out of hearing distance and then he’d ask her for details to see how he could be of assistance.

She started moving as if she intended to climb over him and down to the beach.

“Not yet.” Cole laid a restraining hand on her back. “We’ll wait until they’ve put some distance between us.”

“We?” Her forehead furrowed and her whole body shook from the cold.

“You need help, and I can provide it.”

“I don’t even know you.” It took a strong woman to be this chilled and tired and refuse help. Or a foolish one.

“Then let’s remedy that.” He turned on his side and offered his hand. “Cole Justice. Former U.S. Marshal and Oregon National Guard,” he said, hoping she’d realize he was one of the good guys.

She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.

“Usually this is when you shake hands and give me your name.” He smiled to try to ease her obvious concern, but it didn’t work. She kept peering at him. “Okay. So you don’t want me to know who you are. Can you at least give me a first name?”

“Alyssa,” she said between tremors.

A perfectly elegant name for a woman who he figured would live up to it, if she was dry and not lying on a slimy rock with the winds and rain from the Pacific Ocean pummeling her body.

“Do you have somewhere safe to go?” he asked.

“No.”

“We can go to my house until you figure out what to do.”

“Not hardly.”

“Look, I’m the last guy who’d tell a woman to go home with a strange man, but I really am one of the good guys. Plus my sister is staying with me so we won’t be alone.” He could see she was starting to consider it. “You can dry off and warm up then leave as soon as you have a plan.”

“I’m all for getting off the beach until these guys take off, but I’m not stepping inside the door until I see this sister.” He loved the timbre of her voice, strong and determined as if nothing could best her.

“Deal,” he said. “Let me make sure they’ve moved far enough up the beach, then we can leave.” He slid on his belly across the rock and, before glancing over the edge, he put his hand on his gun in case he needed to draw. The men were mere shadows moving away from them. He looked back at Alyssa and pushed up to his knees. “Are you good to get down on your own?”

She sat up and nodded, but she was shivering violently now. He slipped out of his slicker and parka and handed them to her. “These should help.”

“No, they’re yours.”

“Take them,” he insisted and dropped them into her hands.

She reluctantly slipped into jackets twice her size and clutched the excess fabric around her waist.

“I’ll go first to be sure we’re still alone.” He didn’t wait for her agreement but lowered his body over the edge and descended as quickly as he could without endangering his life.

She was on her way down before he hit the ground. Hand on his weapon, he quickly checked the other side of the rock to be sure they were alone. He wanted to draw his gun, but he figured Alyssa would run from him if she knew he was armed. Most people didn’t understand that it was normal for law enforcement officers, even former or retired officers, to carry all the time.

He cleared the side of the rock and a gust of wind hit him full on, soaking him anew. The storm was picking up. They had to get a move on. He ran back to the rocks and waited for Alyssa. About five feet above him, she missed a foothold and fell backward. No scream, no flailing, just a soft free-fall into his arms that strained with his catch.

Her eyes were wide open with the same fear in the depths but still in control. She was the coolest woman he’d ever met. As if nothing fazed her.

“Thank you,” she said and pushed out of his hold. “We should go.”

The wind howled around the rock, spitting seawater and sand. When they stepped into the open she’d have a hard time without support, but he’d wait for her to ask for his help.

“This way.” He started up the beach, the wet sand packing nicely under his feet and making the going easier. He kept looking back to check on her. She was falling behind. He slowed to let her catch up. “We’d make better time if you’d hold on to me to keep the wind from carrying you off course.”

She studied him a moment then gave a clipped nod and cautiously approached him. He lifted his arm and she slipped under it. A perfect fit, he couldn’t help but think.

She was still shivering so he pulled her tighter against his body. She wrapped an arm around his waist and they trudged up the beach.

As the wind blew harder, he could feel her faltering. He looked down at her, and she seemed fragile and small. It touched him in a place he thought long dead from the ravages of war. He bent and scooped her into his arms. Her mouth formed an O of surprise, but she didn’t protest so he set off again, her head against chest, his head bent against the wind. He climbed the wooden stairs to his deck overlooking the beach and crossed to the door.

“Your sister,” she said pointedly, strength still in her voice even if it had left her body.

He smiled at her tenacity and pounded on the door.

“You can put me down now,” she said.

“You’ll stay warmer this way.” Surprisingly she didn’t struggle but rested her head on his chest again. He figured she really had to be wiped out to do so.

The door opened and, though his sister Dani’s mouth dropped open in surprise at the sight of them, she didn’t ask any questions. Not that Cole routinely brought home women in distress, but their family did run a private investigation agency dedicated to helping people who had nowhere else to turn. She was used to seeing people in need.

“Alyssa, meet Dani.” He turned his attention back to Alyssa. “Can we go in now?”

When her lips tipped in a charming smile, he had to draw in a breath at the stunning beauty.

“Get some blankets, Dani.” He crossed the threshold and headed for the sofa. “And lock the door.”

Dani turned the dead bolt then ran down the hallway. She returned with blankets as Cole gently set Alyssa on the sofa. Dani shook out a blanket and wrapped it around Alyssa’s shaking shoulders.

“Thank you.” Alyssa smiled again, her lips trembling.

Dani handed another blanket to Cole but he tossed it on the sofa. She looked up at him, her gaze filled with questions.

He telegraphed an I’ll-tell-you-later look and went to the lamp. “We need to turn off the lights until I’m sure we’re secure.”

Dani didn’t question him. He turned off the lamps, and she went for the wall switch.

He nodded at the bank of windows on the far side of the room. “Blinds next.”

He grabbed the remote and set the blinds in motion on the floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean. The motor whirred, slowly bringing down the blinds but not before he caught sight of the two men trudging along the beach far too close to the house for comfort.

Cole glanced at Alyssa sitting wide-eyed on the couch, the blanket doing nothing to stop her shivering. He’d taken on the responsibility of protecting her, but was he up to the task if he couldn’t put behind him the loss of his buddy in Iraq? A loss that was all Cole’s fault.

Shake it off, he warned himself as he’d done when he needed to finish out his last tour after Mac died.

“Take Alyssa to the hallway,” he barked at his sister. “If we have a breach, take her out the garage door and evacuate.”

Dani didn’t hesitate but hurried to Alyssa and lifted her by the arm.

“What’s happening?” Alyssa’s voice rose in alarm.

“The men who were following you are heading toward the deck.” Cole didn’t have to say any more. The look on Alyssa’s face said it all.

If he didn’t somehow stop these men from getting inside and figuring out she was the one who overheard them, her life would be at stake—and his and Dani’s, too.

TWO

Once in the long hallway, Alyssa shook off Dani’s arm and peered around the corner. Framed in a shaft of light seeping through the small window from the outdoor security light, Cole stood at the ready. Alyssa could only gape at him.

He had a gun. A gun, for goodness’ sakes! Apparently, he’d had it with him all this time. While he’d held her. While he’d carried her and she’d rested her head trustingly on his chest, he’d been armed like the men chasing her.

“Stay here.” Dani shot across the room, surefooted even in the dim lighting, and joined her brother. She swooped down and pulled a weapon from an ankle holster, the grace and ease of the movement proving she’d done so many times before.

Seriously? Both of them had guns?

“Who are you people?” Alyssa asked, surprised at how shrill her voice sounded.

“All you need to know right now is that we’re here to help you.” Cole kept his intense focus on the window in the door.

Should she have blindly trusted a strange man on the beach? Had she traded one set of killers for another?

Neither of them looked like killers, and Cole had said he used to be a U.S. Marshal...but then Nolan was a cop and now she had reason to believe he’d murdered Todd.

Unbelievable!

How could she ever imagine when she’d set off tonight that the man who’d cared for them since Todd died was the one who’d ended Todd’s life? Now she didn’t know what or who to believe. Who to trust.

“Looks like they’re moving down the beach,” Cole said, grabbing Alyssa’s attention. “Head upstairs, Dani, and keep an eye on them until they’re out of sight.”

Dani gave a clipped nod and Alyssa stepped back into the main room. Dani jogged to the open staircase on long legs that took her up the steps in a flash.

Cole lowered his gun, but kept it gripped between both of his hands and his focus on the door. Silhouetted by the outside light, his long-sleeved shirt clung to his body, molding to muscles she knew were rock hard from when he’d carried her to the house. He was tall—well over six feet she figured. She had to look up at him and she easily cleared five-eleven without shoes. Chestnut-colored hair covered his collar and had a slight wave as it started to dry.

“We’re clear, Cole.” Dani’s voice came from upstairs, and Alyssa pulled her focus from him to watch Dani run down the stairs. “Go ahead and have a seat, Alyssa.”

“Now would be a good time to tell me who you are and why you have guns.” Alyssa directed her comment to Dani, who hadn’t asked a single question of Cole. If Alyssa had a brother who brought home a soaked stray, she’d be peppering him with nonstop questions.

Dani just smiled, lighting up a beautiful face surrounded by natural blond waves. She clicked on a lamp, flooding the room with light. Alyssa blinked until her eyes adjusted; by that time Cole was joining her. His lips tipped in a warm smile. Instead of making Alyssa feel welcome the way Dani’s had, it surprised her when her heart started beating a little bit faster.

She dropped onto the sofa and adjusted the blanket to hide her surprise.

“You okay?” He sat on the table facing her and set his weapon next to him.

“Yes.” She looked into sharp blue eyes that missed nothing yet were kind. She felt a warm connection. Not an earth-shattering, startling sizzle—just a feeling that he was a good and honorable man.

“Alyssa,” he said, breaking the spell and making her jump, “whatever’s going on with you, we can help work through it. That’s what we do and we’d gladly accept you as a client.”

She watched him, searching for duplicitous motives. She found only kindness laced with something that resembled sorrow.

“A client?” she asked.

“Remember I told you I used to be a marshal?” Cole’s gaze didn’t waver. “Well, all of my brothers and sisters used to work in law enforcement, too. Now we operate a private investigations agency in Portland. We’re a nonprofit agency that specializes in providing free services to people who are in need but can’t afford quality investigators.”

Private investigators? Maybe they could help her find out if Nolan killed Todd.

“Wait.” Dani came forward and those questions that hadn’t been asked earlier lingered on her face. “Alyssa’s not a client?”

“Not yet,” Cole said. “We just met on the beach, but it seems like she’s a good candidate for our help.”

“No wonder you were freaked out by our guns.” Dani grabbed a laptop from the table and plopped onto the sofa. She typed for a few moments, then swiveled the screen toward Alyssa. “Here’s our company Web site. This tells you a little about our family. Just so you know we’re legit.”

Thankful Dani seemed to be a mind reader, Alyssa focused on the About Us page on a professional Web site for The Justice Agency. The page contained no photos but held bios for each of them. Five siblings. Three men and two women. She scanned the page, aware that Dani and Cole were both watching her, but she wouldn’t hurry and miss a single word. If she was going to consider letting them help her figure out if Nolan really had killed Todd, she had to be sure they were trustworthy.

She read the short family bio. Interesting. All of them were adopted, which explained how Dani could be blonde and fair-skinned next to Cole’s swarthy complexion and darker hair. But they all did have law enforcement backgrounds, as Cole mentioned. Dani and Ethan Justice were experienced FBI agents. Kat and Derrick were former Portland police officers. And Cole was a former U.S. Marshal, like he’d said.

There were testimonials from clients gushing about the Justice family’s ethics, compassion and top-notch abilities. All services were provided for free, assuming the client met their needs assessment.

Could her luck be changing? Had God heard her prayers and led her to a family who could help her?

“I’d really like to think you’re good guys.” Alyssa tried to put strength she wasn’t feeling into her tone.

“But something’s stopping you,” Cole added.

“It’s just—” She paused to formulate her sentence so she didn’t come off sounding ungrateful for their offer and didn’t share too much about her situation until she was sure she could trust them. “The men chasing me are police officers, and unless I misunderstood what I overheard, they’re drug dealers, too. So the fact that you once worked in law enforcement might be a big selling feature for potential clients, but not for me. Law enforcement backgrounds don’t prove you’re honest or trustworthy. Plus it can’t be a good sign that all five of you left that line of work.”

“We weren’t kicked out, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Cole chuckled, a cute dimple piercing his cheek.

Dani sat forward, her usual smile missing. “Our parents were murdered a few years ago and the police couldn’t find the killer. We each took a leave of absence to find who was responsible. We discovered we liked working together, so we formed our agency.”

“I’m so sorry about your parents,” Alyssa said sincerely. She knew how hard it was to lose parents. Hers had died in a car wreck during her last year of college.

“Turning our focus on helping people in need has made the loss easier to handle.” Dani closed her computer. “I don’t know what’s going on with you yet, Alyssa, but we’d be glad to help if we can.” She squeezed Alyssa’s hand.

After spending nine years married to a police officer and hanging around others in the profession, Alyssa had developed a discerning ability to weed out the fakes. At least she thought she had before Nolan revealed his secret tonight. Could she trust her instincts anymore?

Still, these people didn’t appear to be fake. They seemed good, strong—amazing. Starting with Cole, who risked his life to bring her here, and extending to Dani, who let a stranger into the house without question. Tears threatened to flow as a result of their kindness, and she swallowed hard to hold them back.

She looked at Dani and kept her tone light. “How can I turn down help from a woman who reacted so calmly when her brother dragged in a strange woman off the beach?” Alyssa forced out a chuckle to lighten the mood and glanced at Cole.

Abruptly he grinned, exposing that dimple in his left cheek again.

Oh, wow, she thought. Wow.

He was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous and would have women falling all over him. And that included her. The memory of being carried up the beach flashed into her mind. She’d felt safe and secure, like nothing could harm her. That was even more attractive than his smile.

How long had it been since she’d felt safe and cared for? Cherished? Had she ever truly felt that way with Todd? Not really. Not even before the night two years ago when in anger he’d hit her and she’d asked him to move out of the house, basically ending their marriage.

Dani cleared her throat, and the memory washed away like the mighty waves pounding the shore. The feeling of safety ebbed away with it.

This couple might want to help her, but she still wasn’t cared for. She’d known that since she and Todd split up, especially after he started hounding her at all hours of the day, wanting to get back together. She needed to keep remembering the way he’d failed her so this pair of amazing blue eyes still fastened to her didn’t make her forget what she knew with a certainty.

Men couldn’t be trusted.

No matter the first impression, no matter the connection, they all disappointed when it came to the important things of life. She just had to keep remembering Nolan’s most recent betrayal, and she’d be able to avoid any man. Even this one who set her heart beating faster than it had in years.

* * *

Cole watched Alyssa. Something shifted in her eyes, making them dark and unreadable. It’d been a long time since he’d connected this strongly with a woman. Not since he’d received the Dear John letter in his first tour of duty two years ago. On his thirty-first birthday, no less. On that day he’d said goodbye to a potential wife and family. After the daily worry over his safety in Iraq, Laura said she couldn’t handle having the same angst when he returned to his job as a U.S. Marshal, putting him in danger every day.

Now he was out of practice when it came to women. But not so out of practice that he didn’t recognize interest when he saw it. Her eyes had heated up and flashed an awareness of him for a brief moment. Of that he was certain.

Now she just looked sad. Wounded. So wounded. And he wanted to help her. To find out what made her tick. To ask why she’d shut down so fast. But Dani was scrutinizing his every move the way a parent would watch a baby needing to be coddled. He didn’t need more of that kind of scrutiny from his family. They’d had him under a microscope since he’d come home from Iraq. Maybe waiting for him to crack up and fall apart.

He would keep things professional and settle for finding out why Alyssa ended up on that rock with him in the middle of a winter storm. “If we’re going to help you, we’ll need to know what happened tonight.”

“It’s a long story,” she answered vaguely.

Not unusual. Getting a client to share what was frequently an emotional topic—or at the least very personal—was often the hardest part of helping them.

He sat back to give her more space and make her feel more comfortable. “We have time. Start at the beginning and be honest with us. No matter what the problem is, we won’t judge you.”

She looked warily at him and pulled the blanket tighter as if she felt a need to protect herself. He glanced at Dani. She’d already noticed Alyssa’s uneasiness and had reached out to squeeze her hand.

“We’ve all made mistakes,” Dani said. “Or have things in our lives we don’t want to share with others. What you tell us stays with us and the rest of our family.”

Alyssa squared her shoulders and that steely resolve he’d seen at the beach returned to her face. “I guess it started when my husband died.”

A husband, huh? Unexpected.

No way Cole would’ve missed seeing a wedding ring, but he glanced at her hand to be sure. Just like he’d thought. Her finger was bare and didn’t have a telltale circle from recent wear, meaning her loss happened a while ago.

“He was a police officer,” Alyssa continued. “He was found murdered in his patrol car. A bullet to his chest and a stash of meth in his possession. The sheriff’s department investigated and when his tox screen came back positive for meth, they dug deeper. They discovered he’d worked as part of a drug ring. His role was to tell the rest of the organization when a bust was coming so they escaped arrest.” She ran a hand over her face.

“That must’ve been hard to find out.” Dani patted Alyssa’s knee.

“It was, but then tonight I overheard his former partner, Nolan Saunders, basically admit to killing Todd and framing him with the drugs.” Her tone was cool again, like the freezing rain that had pelted them on the beach, and she calmly recited the events. As if his death was of no consequence to her. But he saw the tremble of her hands and the pain in her eyes that she was trying desperately to hide.

“His partner?” Dani asked, a compassionate look on his younger sister’s face. “Had you suspected him before?”

Alyssa wearily shook her head. Dani squeezed Alyssa’s hand again.

Cole was grateful Dani was here. She was such a comforter, always ready to help others, and she was making this easier on Alyssa while he had to ask the hard questions. “How long has it been since your husband was killed?”

“Two years.” Alyssa clasped her trembling hands together. “That’s when Nolan really got involved in our lives. He said he’d promised Todd he’d look after me and the kids.”

“So you have children,” Dani said.

Alyssa’s smile softened, her expression melting with love. She wasn’t at all the detached woman she’d tried so hard to portray tonight. “Twins. A boy and girl. They’re seven. They’re at home with my friend Paula.” Alyssa shifted on the sofa. “I really should call her to tell her I’m running late.”

Dani grabbed a notepad. “Give me her number, and I’ll let her know you’re with us so you can keep telling Cole about what happened.”

Alyssa rattled off the number, and Dani stepped a few feet away to call.

“You were saying that Saunders helped you and the twins out,” Cole said, hating the thought of a killer anywhere near this woman.

She nodded. “I only worked part time when Todd was alive. When he died, he left behind a mountain of debts, and after the investigation his death benefits were denied. We weren’t left with much, but we had enough for me to renew my real-estate license.” Her back went up again as if she needed to prove she could be strong. “We lived in one side of Nolan’s duplex, and after Todd died Nolan let us stay there rent free. He also helps with the kids. He picks them up from school and watches them when I have to show properties outside school hours.” She looked up and tears glistened in her eyes. “Now I don’t know what I’ll do.”

Cole fisted his hands. He couldn’t wait to investigate this Nolan guy and see that he paid for his crimes and for the way he’d hurt Alyssa. “So you believe Saunders is involved in the drug trade?”

“Yes. He was arguing with another officer, Frank Gibson, who wanted out of their operation. Nolan said if Frank bailed on them, he’d end up a homicide statistic like Todd.” She shivered under the blanket and tugged it tighter.

It wasn’t hard to see how afraid Alyssa was of Saunders, but this statement by the officer wasn’t proof that Saunders had killed her husband. Saunders could simply be using the homicide to build his street cred.

“But he didn’t actually say he killed Todd,” Cole clarified.

“No. It was implied. As much as I don’t want to believe he killed Todd, I think he did. Plus Frank sounded upset. Like he was worried they’d kill him, too, if he tried to bail on them.”

“So how did they end up chasing you?” Dani asked as she rejoined them.

Alyssa looked at Dani. “Is Paula okay with me being late?”

Dani nodded. “She’ll stay as long as you need.”

“So about the men, how’d you see them?” Cole asked, bringing them back.

“I’m a runner. I don’t usually run in the evenings, but I overslept this morning. I had a stressful day and I called Paula to watch the kids so I could run it off. I decided to take the scenic trail overlooking the beach to tire myself out before bed. That’s when I heard them arguing on the path below me. After I heard what they’d said, I tried not to make any noise as I headed for my car. But I fell and that alerted them that I was there. When they came after me, I ran.”

Cole thought about the men at the beach and their conversation. They never mentioned specifically looking for Alyssa. Not even looking for a woman. They’d just used the words “person” and “anyone.” “And did they know it was you?”

“When Nolan told the other men to chase me, he said get him, so I don’t think he knows it was me.” She shivered. “Now I don’t know what’s going to happen to us. I mean, what do I do? I can’t report what I heard to the police department. Nolan’s father is the police chief. The whole department could be involved in this for all I know.” Her teeth started chattering.

Police chief? Well, that raised the stakes and made this even more complicated. Cole wanted to keep questioning her, but he had enough information to begin a preliminary investigation, and she should get home to her kids and out of her wet clothes.

“You don’t need to do anything, Alyssa.” Cole made eye contact with her, making sure she knew they were here for her. “We’ll investigate both Todd’s murder and Saunders’s connection to any drug activities. As a bonus, we might even be able to clear Todd’s name and get his death benefits reinstated.”

“That would be great,” she said.

“The best thing now is for one of us to take you home. You’ll have to act like everything is normal and pretend nothing happened.”

“I need to get my car first.” Alyssa suddenly looked exhausted. “It’s in a public lot downtown.”

An alarm bell rang in Cole’s head. “Any chance that could lead them to you?”

“I suppose it’s possible, but if Nolan asks, I can always say I was meeting a client to show a house.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Cole offered. “We’ll get your car on the way to your house. And on the drive we can talk about what to say in case Saunders asks any questions about tonight. Okay?”

Alyssa simply answered with a resigned nod.

“We can’t have you going home looking like that and claiming you were showing houses.” Dani stood and pulled Alyssa to her feet. “Let’s get you into some dry clothes first.” Dani gave Cole a pointed look and tugged on his shirt. “You might want to clean up, too.”

As they left the room, he realized how cold he was. When he’d given his coat to Alyssa, the rain had soaked him through, yet he’d never really felt the chill. Not until now. Until she’d left the room, giving him time to think about what had occurred tonight.

If he hadn’t been on the beach searching for the way out of his funk, these men might’ve found her. Or she could’ve died from exposure. Either way there was a potential killer out there who had law enforcement training and skills. Skills that could help him figure out he’d been tracking Alyssa tonight. And skills that would allow him to take her life just as he had her husband’s.

THREE

Cole sat at the kitchen counter and waited for Alyssa and Dani to return. When he’d gone to his room to change, he’d heard the guest shower running. Likely at Dani’s insistence. He smiled when he imagined his tenacious sister directing Alyssa to take a quick shower to warm up even though she wanted to get home.

He’d considered a short shower himself but decided against it and simply slipped into dry clothes as he was eager to take care of his first order of business. He needed to run a background check on Nolan, Todd and Alyssa. As a former police officer, his brother Derrick was the perfect person to do it.

He dug out his phone and dialed Dani’s twin.

“So you are alive,” Derrick answered, his tone filled with sarcasm.

Cole felt a moment of guilt. The family had decided he needed to take time off and work through the baggage he still carried from his two tours in Iraq. Miffed at their interference, he’d taken off to the beach and hadn’t reported in for a few weeks. As the mediator of the family, Dani was dispatched here yesterday to make sure he was okay.

“I figured Dani would’ve called you all by now,” Cole said.

“She did, but there’s nothing like hearing your voice to prove you’re still alive.” This time Derrick’s voice held brotherly concern instead of sarcasm.

Cole felt bad for making them worry. He just didn’t know how to get a grip on the emotions he still battled. When the family had interfered, it had made him mad that he wasn’t strong enough to shake it. In the end, he’d made things worse. “Look, man, I’m sorry. You know.”

“I know,” Derrick said. “So what’s up?”

As Dani joined him in the kitchen, Cole told his brother about Alyssa’s problem. “I need you to drop everything and do a background check on them. I’ll text you with their info.”

“Sorry, bro. I’d like to help, but Ethan’s already got me on an assignment.”

Cole sighed. As the oldest sibling, Ethan had taken charge of the agency and set their priorities. Normally, Cole didn’t mind talking with Ethan, but he’d been all happy and gushy after getting married lately and that rubbed salt into Cole’s wounds. A conversation with Ethan would only remind him of all he’d lost when Laura decided to bail on him right before their wedding.

Still, he wasn’t going to give up on doing what was right for Alyssa just to avoid Ethan. “Is what you’re working on a life-or-death matter?”

“No. It’s a routine check for one of our business clients.” To allow them to work most of their cases for free, they performed background checks for a long list of paying companies.

“Then I’ll clear this with Ethan,” Cole promised. “Any chance you can get started tonight?”

Derrick snorted. “You’re pushing your luck here, bro.”

“I know, but in a town this small one misstep could cost lives. We need to be prepared for anything.”

“Who do you want me to start with?”

“Nolan Saunders.”

“Fine. I’ll call you as soon as I have anything to report.” He disconnected and Cole stowed his phone in his pocket.

Dani finished pouring a cup of coffee and held up the pot. “You want a cup?”

He nodded.

She handed him the steaming mug. “I’ll take care of getting Ethan on board.”

No one ever volunteered to talk with Ethan about a change in agency priorities. Cole watched her carefully to see what she was up to.

She simply laughed. “What?”

“You’re volunteering to talk to Ethan. What gives?”

“He’s been more mellow since he got married. Plus I like Alyssa. Really like her, and for some reason I feel compelled to go the extra mile for her.”

Me, too, Cole thought and instantly tamped it down. He’d known her for only a few hours, and he was acting like a schoolboy with a crush. Not only was it foolish behavior for a grown man, but it was foolish for him in particular when he hadn’t worked out all his baggage from Iraq.

“Sounds like you think this case is going to be tricky.” Dani slipped onto a stool next to him.

“We’ll have to be careful.” He set his mug on the counter and cupped his hands around it to warm them. “We’re all used to working in a big city where anonymity is pretty much a given. Pacific Bay is a small town and gossip gets around.”

“Then we’ll need a cover story,” Dani said.

“Alyssa mentioned showing houses tonight as an excuse for her car in the lot, so I can pose as one of her clients looking for rental property here. That’ll give me a reason to ask questions without drawing attention. Plus I’ll be able to meet with her on a regular basis and not raise Saunders’s suspicion.”

“You think he could have identified her tonight?”

“I don’t know—maybe.” He lifted his cup and took a long drink.

“You have great instincts, Cole. If you think it’s possible, maybe it is.”

“I keep thinking about the beach. It didn’t take me long to recognize she was a woman by the way she carried herself. It wouldn’t be farfetched to think the cops chasing her could’ve done the same thing.”

“Maybe they didn’t study her quite as carefully as you did.” She ended with a wink.

He peered over his mug at her. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m just saying something’s going on with you that I haven’t seen in a long time. I think, my dear brother, that you’re interested in her.”

He thought to deny it, but there was a good possibility that he was. Still, he didn’t want to talk about it. “In case Saunders has identified her, we’ll need to keep an eye on her until we’re sure she’s in the clear.”

“Oh, yeah.” She gave him a playful punch to the arm. “You’ll keep an eye on her, all right. Both of them.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Dani.”

“And that’s why you’ve been exiled out here. To get over this serious phase and let the Cole we all know and love come back.”

“You’ll have to get used to the new Cole. The old one is never coming back.” He tweaked her nose. “I saw too much in Iraq for that to happen.”

“That’s a given, but the new Cole could still stand to laugh and smile a little more often.”

He’d tried that. For two years. But it was hard to be lighthearted when his buddy was buried in the ground because of him.

From the corner of his eye, Cole saw Alyssa enter the room and he swiveled to face her.

“A smile like the cute one you have on your face right now,” Dani whispered.

“Cute?” Cole groaned and watched Alyssa make her way across the open space. His assessment on the beach was right on target. She was gorgeous and regal-looking. Perfect posture. Slender, yet curvy in Dani’s clothes. Her shoulder-length hair falling in soft waves framed her face.

“Wow. You clean up nice,” Dani said to Alyssa while nudging Cole in the shoulder. He checked to see if his mouth was hanging open.

It wasn’t, but he didn’t know why not.

A man would need to be half-dead not to respond to this amazing-looking woman. And the way his heart was picking up speed proved he wasn’t half-dead by any measure.

So what? He was just being a man. That’s all there was to this. At least that’s what he was telling himself. And would keep telling himself to get through this investigation without falling for her. No woman deserved to be saddled with his baggage. Especially not a woman who had her own share of problems.

But that didn’t mean he’d leave her to fend for herself. He wouldn’t let anyone get to her. Especially not the two-faced killer Nolan Saunders.

* * *

Alyssa shifted on the heated leather seat of Cole’s SUV. She hugged the plastic bag holding her running gear in her arms and her car key snug in her palm. Cole and Dani had just walked her through the steps they’d take in their investigation, and she couldn’t be more impressed with their skills.

Still, while they’d talked she’d kept her eyes on the road, watching for Nolan’s police vehicle. She hoped he hadn’t discovered her part in tonight’s chase, but if he hadn’t she couldn’t help but believe it was only a matter of time before he did. He was a good investigator. The best, Todd had said many times. She felt her discovery was imminent.

“You’re awfully quiet, Alyssa,” Dani said from the backseat. “Do you have any questions about our plan?”

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to help resolve this?” Alyssa swiveled toward Dani but met Cole’s gaze as he sat behind the wheel.

He spent a long moment studying her before turning back to the road. “Just go about life as normal unless I tell you otherwise.”

Normal, right! “I don’t know if I can do this, Cole.” She worked hard to keep her tone level even though she felt panic trying to elevate it. “I don’t think I can even look at Nolan again, much less pretend he’s the same man I once thought he was.”

Dani leaned forward. “Is it likely you’ll see him often in the next few days?”

Alyssa nodded. “We talk every day. In fact, if my lights are on tonight, it wouldn’t be unusual for him to stop in when he gets home.”

“I doubt he’ll be home soon,” Dani said. “Since his mystery eavesdropper got away, he’s likely meeting with his men to do damage control.”

“I suppose,” Alyssa replied, but she didn’t take much comfort from Dani’s statement. “But what about tomorrow? He’s bound to want to talk me. Especially after his announcement last week.”

“What announcement?” The intensity of Cole’s gaze unsettled Alyssa even more.

“He hinted at us becoming more than friends and he’s waiting for me to give him the green light on a relationship. Not that I ever intended to pursue anything with him, but I couldn’t think of a good way to let him down.”

“Hopefully his feelings for you won’t complicate things,” Cole said.

Hoping the same thing, Alyssa sighed and returned her focus to the window. The heavily forested roadside disappeared, signaling their arrival in the city limits.

Retail establishments lined both sides of the highway. Once they turned off and headed into the downtown area the shops sat closer together and antique street lamps cut through the fog and spilled over the brick streets.

Cole slowed and tipped his head at a parking lot on the right. “Is this the lot?”

“Yes.”

He pulled into the main downtown parking lot, still filled with employees and diners’ cars. Even in the inclement winter months, the town’s population swelled with tourists seeking off-season rates. Several couples hurried through the drizzle to their vehicles, but there was no sign of Nolan.

“Which car is yours?”

“The blue SUV. Third car from the building.”

Cole pulled up behind her car and left his vehicle idling. Dani popped open her door and slid out. She was going to drive Cole’s car while Cole rode with Alyssa, making sure she got home safely. She stood outside Alyssa’s door, watchful and searching, her hand on the handle.

Alyssa looked at Cole, once again thankful for his expertise. “Are you sure you don’t mind driving me home?”

“I don’t mind in the least.” He smiled, his dimple winking at her.

She could sit and stare at his smile all night. There was something special about how his face lit up, yet it seemed like he didn’t share a smile with just anyone, making her feel special. How she could go from fearing Nolan in one second to melting at a smile the next was beyond her. She forced herself to look away and push open her door.

Alyssa started to slide out and Dani stepped into her path, keeping her in the car. “We’ll wait for Cole to check out your car.”

He searched every conceivable hiding space while walking around Alyssa’s SUV. He held himself with a confidence she was beginning to realize was part of who this man was. He opened the driver’s-side door and checked the interior. Then, still standing, he reached in, started the engine and stepped back. Odd.

“I’ve never seen anyone start a car like that,” Alyssa commented more to herself than to Dani.

“It’s a safer way to do it if someone has tampered with your vehicle.”

Alyssa’s gaze flew to Dani’s. “Is that even possible? You said it was unlikely that Nolan knew it was me.”

“It is unlikely but not impossible.” Dani smiled, but her hand drifted to the weapon she had holstered on her belt, negating the smile. “Once you get to know Cole, you’ll learn that he’s thorough and doesn’t take chances.”

“So you think this is overkill?”

“I do, but then I never had to see what he’s seen as a member of an elite squad during two tours of duty.” Dani sighed and it carried the weight of the world.

Alyssa wanted to ask her about it, but Cole came over to them. He stopped in front of his sister but continued to scan the area. “We’re good to go. You’ll follow us?”

“Yes,” Dani answered.

Surprised, Alyssa looked at Dani. “I thought you were going back home, but now that you mention it, Cole will need a ride from my place.”

“It’s not only that, but he also wants to make sure you aren’t tailed.” Dani stepped behind the opened door.

Cole slipped his hand around Alyssa’s elbow to help her down from the car. Though she didn’t need his help, she didn’t argue. He kept her close to his side and when they passed Dani, he shared a quick fist bump with her. They seemed so comfortable and in tune with one another.

Alyssa had always wanted a sibling to share this kind of camaraderie, but her parents didn’t want a second child. She’d hoped for a large family with Todd—lots of noise, laughter and love shared between many children—but the dream of having more children died when Todd hit her.

It felt odd to settle in the passenger seat of her own car and even stranger when Cole climbed behind the wheel. She supposed he was used to adapting to an ever-changing environment in his job. She wished she could adjust so quickly, but her nerves were fried.

Too tired to give directions, she pressed Go Home on her GPS and the woman’s voice spouted the first set of directions.

“You really shouldn’t have your home address programmed in your GPS.” Cole adjusted the mirrors. “If someone stole your car, they’d know where you live.”

With Dani’s heads-up about his thorough nature, she wasn’t surprised at his comment. “I’ll change it tomorrow.”

He turned and gave Dani a thumbs-up. Alyssa heard Dani back the car out of their way.

Cole turned to the front, smiling at her. “You ready to go?”

She peered into his eyes. Blue. Like the ocean on a summer day. He seemed so self-assured, yet there was something lingering in the depths that belied the confidence. Nothing that made her doubt his abilities, but something she knew he was questioning, maybe searching for.

Their gazes met and held. His smile disappeared and his eyes turned dark and unreadable. He suddenly seemed too close for comfort and the car too small.

“I really should be getting home,” she said and hated the way his expression became guarded, a feeling she knew all too well from her failed relationship with Todd. But that was a good thing, right? If he looked at her like this more often, reminding her to keep her distance, she wouldn’t have to fight this crazy attraction.

He pulled out of the lot, and once on the road, she listened to the rhythmic thump, thump of the intermittent wipers, hoping the soothing sound would calm her nerves. The dashboard cast a red glow, and she could see Cole check the mirrors on a regular basis—maybe making sure Dani, and no one else, followed them. Neither of them spoke. The quiet, save the wipers and hissing sound of tires spinning over wet pavement, felt uncomfortable as could be expected between two strangers.

And they were strangers. They’d only met a few hours ago. But there was a connection between them, too. Even if she didn’t like it, she couldn’t deny it.

He followed the GPS instructions, making all the directed turns. They pulled onto her street, and she was thankful not to see Nolan’s car in front of their nondescript box of a duplex. Each of them had a one-car garage, but Nolan had filled his with sporting equipment and had no room for his car so he parked on the street.

A single light brightened the front porch of her home. It was usually a beacon welcoming her home. But tonight the thick fog cloaked the shadows around the property, creating dark and murky places to hide.

“It would be best if we could park in the garage,” Cole said, obviously on the same wavelength.

Thankfully, Paula’s husband had dropped her off, so her car didn’t block the driveway. Alyssa pressed the remote mounted on the visor. The garage door groaned and protested its age, then rumbled up. Cole expertly slid her large car into the tight space and turned off the motor.

Expecting Dani to join them, Alyssa glanced back, but Dani’s car wasn’t in the driveway or on the road. “Where’s Dani?”

“We didn’t want to risk Saunders seeing her if he was home. She’ll be waiting for me a few blocks away.”

“He isn’t home. He parks on the street and his car isn’t here.” Just the thought of him nearby sent a shiver over her body. She couldn’t imagine how she would’ve handled it if he had been here. She wrapped her arms around her waist.

“Hey.” Cole laid a warm hand on her shoulder. “I won’t let anything happen to you. In fact, I need to check your home to make sure everything’s okay before leaving you alone.”

Did he really think something had happened to Paula and the twins? Not likely. Nolan would never hurt the kids, would he? “If anything’s wrong, Paula would call me.”

He studied her for a moment, then drew in a deep breath. “There’s something we need to get straight, Alyssa. If I’m to do my job and do it right, there will be things I have to do that aren’t optional. This is one of them.” His tone was sharp, his eyes dark. She suddenly felt sorry for Nolan if he ever crossed this man’s path.

“And what am I supposed to tell Paula about you looking through my house?”

“Does she have any connection to the police force or Nolan?”

“Her husband’s a police officer.”

“Then for your own safety, we’ll have to use a cover story. Tell her I’m a client and you wanted me to see the layout of your place.”

She didn’t want to lie to Paula, but she’d do so for her children’s safety. Without another word, she climbed out.

Cole went to the door leading into her house. As he pushed it open, he settled a hand on the weapon he’d holstered at his waist before leaving his rental house. Her concern rose not only for her own safety, but for her children, as well.

He seemed to shake it off, though, and held out his hand. Needing to check on her babies, she rushed inside without a backward glance to see if he followed. On the way to the stairs, she spotted Paula sound asleep on the sofa.

Breathing a sigh of relief for her friend’s safety, Alyssa charged up the steps as sore muscles from her frantic escape from Nolan screamed at her to slow down. But nothing would stop her from making sure the twins were okay.

Cole caught up with her. “The point of me being here is to check things out before you run headfirst into danger.”

“I just need to make sure the twins are fine.”

His eyes softened a bit. “Which room is theirs?”

“Second door on the left,” she answered. “Please be careful not to wake them.”

“They won’t even know I was here.” He moved stealthily down the hallway, his footfalls silent and quick, almost as if he were one of the dark shadows outside. He slipped into the twins’ room and she followed.

“Thank You, Father,” she whispered at the sight of her babies safely in their twin beds.

Cole went straight to the window and closet, then knelt down to check under their beds. Alyssa was thankful she’d recently discovered Riley had been hiding kid’s-meal boxes under his bed. Riley had wanted to use them as blocks to build a fort. Unfortunately, he hadn’t removed all the food, and she’d found petrified French fries.

Cole came to his feet and paused between the twin beds to look down on Riley and Brianna. In the soft light coming from the hallway, Alyssa saw his face soften. He was such an enigma. Tough, strong, unyielding—and here he was smiling softly at her twins.

He suddenly shook off whatever he was feeling and turned. “Let me check the other rooms and then we can go back downstairs.” He left the room as silently as he’d entered.

She went to Brianna’s bed and tucked the blanket up to her chin. After running a hand over her soft curls, Alyssa kissed her daughter’s forehead. She moved to Riley’s bed and found his comforter decorated with colorful footballs dangling at the end. She tugged it up and pressed a kiss on his cheek. He stirred, then turned over and settled deep into the covers.

Thank You, Lord, for giving me these beautiful children, and keep us all safe through the night. Alyssa headed for the hall where she met Cole.

He held up a hand. “Wait here while I confirm the first floor is clear.”

Knowing better than to try to argue, she sat down on the top step to wait. He returned in a few moments and motioned for her to join him. When she reached the first floor, she found him at the front door.

“Everything’s secure,” he whispered, likely to keep from waking Paula, and pulled open the door.

“So will I see you tomorrow?” she asked, suddenly feeling very alone.

“It’d be a good idea to get together for a status update. Where do you usually meet clients?”

“At my office or a coffee shop.”

“If we meet for coffee you won’t have to explain who I am to your coworkers.”

“Good thinking.” She gave him the location of the place she usually frequented. “Ten would be a typical time I’d meet a client.”

“Then ten o’clock it is.” He looked at her for a few moments, seeming to memorize everything about her. She figured with his skills he’d already done so, but this look was softer, as if he didn’t want to leave her alone.

Touched by his kindness, she smiled her thanks. He pulled back, as if she’d branded him.

“If you need anything tonight,” he stepped onto the porch, “I’ll be standing watch outside.”

She’d thought he’d drop her off and go home. “I can’t let you stay outside all night. Not in this weather.”

“Trust me. I’ve had to stand duty in much worse.”

She didn’t want to impose on him any more tonight, but the iron resolve on his face said it was useless to argue, so she stood in the doorway until he disappeared into the foggy night.

As she reached for the door, she spotted Nolan’s car turning onto her street. She quickly closed the door and locked it. She rushed through the room, turning out lights. Hopefully she’d snapped them off before Nolan discovered she was awake and stopped by to question her about the night.

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