“I’M COMING FOR YOU.”

When helping a victim of domestic violence, advocate Jessica Taylor finds herself a target once more. But those memories of the past can’t stop her from safeguarding the women in her care. Not even when the victim’s brother, Andrew Jennings, appoints himself Jessica’s protector. She won’t let another man endanger himself for her sake, but gutsy determination turns to fear when the stalker steps out of the shadows and into her home. No place is safe, not even in Andrew’s arms. Because Jessica knows a showdown is coming and Andrew will risk everything—even his life—for the woman he loves.

“You’re too easy a target at home.”

Jessica stared at him, dumbfounded that Andrew expected her to run and hide. “I won’t be run out of my home by anyone.”

“I’m only suggesting you take precautions. You’ve stayed at the shelter lots of times.”

“By choice.” She folded her arms. “You’re suggesting

I hide out.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I won’t let one of these psychos control my life.” She wouldn’t allow that to happen again.

“Need I remind you that you were nearly killed yesterday?” he said. “This guy has already scared you half to death and all he did was get onto the porch and rattle the door. What are you going to do when he gets inside?”

“I was not scared.”

He closed the distance between them as if his closeness was a reminder. “You were trembling. Are you so stubborn that you won’t even admit when you’re afraid?”

Not to him. But she admitted it to herself. She was terrified.…

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Andrew and Jessica’s story. I am so thrilled that theirs has become my first published LIS because I feel such a connection with these characters. We all have a past. We’ve all been hurt either by our own choices or by the choices of those around us. We have all gone through something in our pasts, and this world in which we live teaches us many different ways to cope. However, as Andrew and Jessica’s story shows, true healing comes only through the power of Jesus Christ. And according to 2 Samuel 14:14, God devises ways to bring His children back to Him. Isn’t that awesome? We serve a God who actively works to restore us to Himself no matter how many wrong choices we’ve made or wrong roads we’ve traveled.

One of my favorite verses is Joel 2:24 that states God will restore what the locusts ate. God restored Jessica from a traumatic experience. He gave her life a passion to help other abused women as well as a second chance at love. In a similar way, God has restored my life from the wrong choices I made in my younger days. He has given me a heart for women’s ministry and a passion for encouraging women to understand why we make the choices we make.

I would love to hear your thoughts, comments or stories of restoration. You can visit my website at virginiavaughanonline.com, my blog at womenofconsequence.blogspot.com, or through the publisher.

Blessings!

Virginia

VIRGINIA VAUGHAN

was born and raised in Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those borders. She feels blessed to come from a large Southern family, and her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger and love. She soon started writing them herself.

After marriage, two kids and a divorce, Virginia realized her characters needed the same thing she needed—the healing grace and restoration power of Jesus Christ. She devoted her life and her writing to His glory and watched God swing open doors for her to walk through.

You can connect to Virginia through her website, virginiavaughanonline.com.

No Safe Haven

Virginia Vaughan

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm.

—Joel 2:25

To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through whom all things are possible.

And to my writers' group, the Bards of Faith. You’ve been there for me through both the tears and the laughter. You have encouraged, challenged and inspired me throughout this journey. I love each and every one of you and I am so thankful God brought you into my life.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

Dear Reader

Question for Discussion

Extract

Copyright

ONE

The slam of a car door grabbed Jessica Taylor’s attention.

She dropped the clothes in her hand and rushed to the window to scan the front of the house. An unfamiliar silver sedan was parked at the curb. That hadn’t been there when Jessica arrived to help Sarah Young escape her abusive husband.

Sarah’s face was pale against the blue bruises that shadowed her eye and cheeks and the red swollen lip. But it was the fear in her wide, green eyes that spoke volumes. “It’s Robert. He’s home,” she said, her voice a choked, fearful whisper.

The thought of a confrontation with this man—or any man who believed he had the right to beat his wife—swept a wave of bitterly familiar emotions through Jessica. Fear, desperation, hopelessness. For a moment, she was swept back into the past to another confrontation.

The pounding on the door...the despair...the chilling voice on the other side of the door.

You’re mine, Jess.

No matter how many times she’d confronted such evil, she’d never grown accustomed to it.

But she’d also learned to push through her fears until the singe of righteous anger strengthened her and she would never bow to them. She ignored the shakiness in her knees as she pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail. She only wished she were more dressed down. High-heeled shoes were not the ideal for running if she needed to, but she’d come straight from court and she liked the added height they gave her five-foot-six frame.

She draped on an air of calmness as she turned to Sarah. “Grab your suitcase. We need to go now. He won’t find you. You’ll be safe, I promise.”

Sarah’s chin quivered and tears pooled in her eyes. “He’s going to be so mad.”

Jessica knew this was a pivotal moment. The attack on Sarah was damaging enough to keep her husband in jail overnight, but they’d lost precious escape time while she’d tried to convince Sarah to leave. Even now, she saw the question of whether or not to go on Sarah’s battered face.

Jessica understood her feelings. This was Sarah’s home and she didn’t want to leave it, but she also knew the statistics of intimate partner violence. Robert’s violence was escalating, and Sarah might not survive another attack.

Jessica touched her arm, trying to pull the young woman’s focus back to the plan. “Sarah, we have to leave. Robert doesn’t know about Dean’s Den. You’ll be safe there, but we have to go now.”

The domestic violence shelter Jessica ran in Jackson had safeguards for women in Sarah’s position. But those security measures would be futile if Robert had an opportunity to follow them there.

Sarah nodded then stuffed the handful of clothing she held into the suitcase and closed it. “I’m ready.”

The back door slammed shut and a man’s voice reverberated through the house shouting Sarah’s name. Jessica sucked in a breath. Were they already too late?

But relief flooded Sarah’s face. “Andrew!” She ran to the bedroom door and called out to him. “Andrew, we’re here.”

He rushed into the room, grabbed Sarah and hugged her tightly. Jessica could see the relief on his face and the affection for the woman now in his arms. But she was shocked to realize she also knew him—Assistant District Attorney Andrew Jennings.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner,” he told Sarah. “I was drowning in legal briefs and my phone battery died. I didn’t see your messages until this morning. Are you okay?” He touched her face, then her arms, as if checking for himself to make certain she wasn’t seriously injured.

“I’m fine. Jessica, this is my brother. Andrew, this is Jessica Taylor. She runs a shelter for women like me.”

He turned his eyes from his sister long enough to acknowledge her presence. “We’ve met.”

Yes, they knew one another. They’d worked together in the past and she’d tried with little success to encourage Andrew and the District Attorney’s Office to help other victims of domestic violence through stronger charges and higher sentences for batterers.

Andrew Jennings possessed a wide, disarming smile and a charm that put people at ease when he chose to use it. Juries responded to him. The press revered him. And most women swooned at the sight of his sea-green eyes fixed upon her.

But Jessica was not most women.

This man understood high-priced suits and expensive cars. He’d worked his way up the ladder of success in the D.A.’s office by winning cases...and domestic violence cases were hardly ever winnable. He had no clue about what the women in her care endured and no desire to learn. All he cared about was getting his handsome face in the newspaper.

Or so she’d thought until she’d watched him pull Sarah into his strong embrace.

“I won’t let him hurt you again. I promise I won’t.” He looked at Jessica as if to drive home his determination.

He needn’t have bothered. The angry flush on his cheeks and the fire in his eyes only confirmed what she already knew. This case was too personal for him to be objective. An altercation between him and Robert would make an already dangerous situation much worse.

After all the cases they’d worked together, why hadn’t he come to her when he realized his sister needed help? Did he disdain her so much that he wouldn’t even acknowledge she was good at what she did?

“We have to leave. I called the courthouse after I got your messages. Robert posted bail. He’s on his way here now. Let’s go. My car is parked out front.”

Andrew grabbed Sarah’s suitcase from the bed then led her toward the living room. Jessica followed behind them, noticing the protective way Andrew’s arm never left Sarah’s shoulder. This was a side of his nature she’d never seen before.

As he opened the front door, a large white pickup roared into the driveway and a man leaped from the cab. Andrew slammed the door and turned to her. “It’s Robert. Now what?”

“While I’m talking to him, you get Sarah to the car. Don’t stop moving, even for me.” She directed her next command back to Sarah. “Don’t speak to him. Don’t even look at him. Let your brother lead you out.”

The young woman quivered with fear. “What if he comes after me?”

“He’ll have to get through me first. And believe me, I won’t make it easy for him.”

Andrew stepped forward. “Maybe I should be the one to confront him.”

“I imagine that would only make things worse.” She didn’t have time to deal with his macho chivalry. They had to move and fast. “I’ve dealt with men like Robert before. I can take care of myself.” She didn’t wait for him to agree. She lengthened her stride as she headed for the front door, silently lifting a prayer that God would guide them to safety.

A shadow on the other side of the window stopped her. Heavy footsteps pounded the concrete. Jessica did a quick assessment. The layout of the room made getting to the back door quickly impossible. She had no choice but to confront him in order to buy time for Andrew and Sarah to escape.

The man who opened the door and blocked their path was thirtyish and built like an NFL linebacker. “Who are you?” he demanded when he saw Jessica. He zeroed in on the suitcase in Andrew’s hand then stepped inside and slammed the door. “I knew something was up when I saw Andrew’s car out front.”

To Jessica’s dismay, Sarah ignored her wishes and responded to her husband. “I didn’t think you would be here.”

He glowered at her. “No, you thought I’d still be in jail, didn’t you? Well, they let me go. They said your made-up story about me hitting you was bogus so they had to release me.”

Jessica knew his statement was untrue—just more emotional torment—but she saw Sarah shrink at its impact.

“That’s a lie,” Andrew said, stepping in front of Sarah in a protective manner. “The judge issued a restraining order against you and you’re already in violation of that order by being here. This can send you back to jail.”

Robert’s nostrils flared in anger and the muscles in his neck flinched. Jessica stepped forward before this could escalate into an altercation between the two men. She hoped the icy stare she flashed Andrew penetrated his thick skull. What part of “don’t stop moving” did he not understand? The path to the back door was still clear. “Mr. Young, my name is Jessica. I’m a domestic violence crisis counselor. Sarah has asked for my help.”

He had an angry stare that she was certain struck fear in anyone who crossed him. Now, it was specifically reserved for his wife. But that expression quickly faded and in its place a bewildered one emerged. A note of desperation crept into his voice. “What? Why?”

Even though the situation called for a conciliator, the advocate in her fired up. The befuddled look on his face made her ill. These men always liked to play the victim. But she kept her tone deliberate and measured. “You know why.”

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Andrew and Sarah finally moving toward the kitchen to escape through the back door.

He shook his head. “Did Andrew bring you here? He’s never liked me. He has been trying to turn Sarah against me since the day we met. He tells lies and you believe them.”

“No, the bruises on Sarah are all I need to convince me.”

“She’s clumsy.”

Jessica stared him down. “Sure she is.”

Robert turned his attention to Sarah and Andrew, who were nearly to the back door. “Sarah!”

“I’m sorry,” she cried, stopping and turning back to him. “Please don’t be mad.”

Andrew reached for her arm and yanked her toward the door. “Sarah, let’s go.”

Robert turned to intercept them through the front but Jessica matched his steps, firmly blocking his way. Thanks to her added height, she met him nearly eye to eye.

His voice became low and threatening. “Get out of my way.”

She refused to be moved. “I won’t let you hurt her again.”

His jaw clenched and his body stiffened, sure signs that he was getting angry. She knew she should say something to calm him, but those words wouldn’t come. This was all too personal now.

“I said, ‘Move!’” His big hands jammed her shoulders, pushing her to the floor. Pain seared through her head as it met the edge of the coffee table. A wave of dizziness and nausea swept through her, but she scrambled to get back on her feet. Her eyes refused to focus so Robert was a blur as he took off out the front door and across the lawn chasing after Sarah and Andrew.

Jessica grabbed hold of the table and pulled herself up. She couldn’t allow him to reach Sarah. She wouldn’t let him hurt her again.

She stumbled a bit as she ran after them but saw Robert reach the car moments after Andrew and Sarah hopped inside. She heard the distinct sound of the door locks and a wave of relief pulsed through her.

Robert pulled on the handle then pounded on the glass. “Get out of the car, Sarah. Open this door and get out now!” His breath caused a fog on the glass. “Get out now or I swear I will kill you. And I’ll kill your brother, too!”

She saw Sarah cover her ears to block out his tirade.

As she approached the car, Robert focused his rage on Jessica. “This is your fault. You turned her against me.” His hand came out of nowhere and slammed into her face.

Pain ripped through her cheek like a hot searing knife. She stumbled backward and fell to the grass, the hard lawn digging into her hands and knees. She heard heavy breathing as he leaned over her and when Jessica looked up, his muscles were tight and his eyes on fire. His hands were gripped into white-knuckled fists ready to do their damage.

The squeal of the car tires was music to her ears. Jessica blew out a sigh of relief. No matter what happened to her, he would not get to Sarah.

Not tonight.

Not ever again.

* * *

“Don’t move,” Andrew ordered as he hopped from the car. He’d gotten Sarah out of the war zone, but he couldn’t let Jessica fight the battle alone. He grabbed his aluminum baseball bat from the athletic bag on the backseat. If Robert wanted a fight, he would get one.

He ran back toward them. Jessica was on the ground kicking and fighting against Robert, who already had her one arm pinned with his knee. He was struggling to contain the other arm. She was a fighter but Andrew knew she wouldn’t last long against a big guy like Robert.

“Get away from her!” he yelled, swinging the bat with all his force. Robert fell, clutching his side and groaning in pain.

Andrew stood over him, ready to repay his brother-in-law for the damage he’d done to Sarah. He had Robert in just the position he’d longed for. All the anger and frustration he’d struggled with for months swept through him until he was dizzy with rage and all he could see was the target on Robert’s head.

He’d teach him to beat up on his sister.

“Don’t do it, Andrew.”

The calmness in Jessica’s voice reached him through the pent-up indignation. He turned his gaze to her. Her blond hair was matted and red at her temple and her clothes were grass-stained. Blood trickled from her lip and her hose were torn. Yet her countenance was calm, controlled. “Sarah needs you.”

He glanced back at the car. Even from this distance, he could see the look of horror on Sarah’s face as she climbed into the backseat and watched them through the glass. Yet even after all the stuff Robert had put her through, he was certain her worry was more for the man on the ground than for him.

“Let’s go,” Jessica said, touching his arm, putting all her focus on pulling him out of this situation. Her touch had a soothing effect and the frenzied fury drained from him.

She’d been right about his confronting Robert. It had definitely made things worse.

Andrew pulled her to her feet then walked beside her, glad for the commanding stride she possessed even after such a beat-down.

“Where’s your car?” he asked her.

“Down the road. I’ll come back for it later.”

He opened the passenger door to his car then closed it once she was safely inside, noticing that Robert was still trying to reclaim his sure footing. Andrew rushed around the car and slid into the driver’s seat, dropping the bat at his feet as he started the engine. One glance in the rearview mirror showed Robert crawling to his feet and heading their way.

“This isn’t over,” he yelled, stumbling toward them. He reached the back of the car and pounded on the trunk. “You think you’re through with me? You’re worthless, Sarah. Worthless and stupid. You’re nothing without me. I’ll kill all of you!”

Andrew jammed the car into gear and sped away before the maniac had a chance to make good on his threat. He didn’t let up on the accelerator as he sped away from Sarah’s neighborhood. He’d always had a heavy foot, but today his speed was purposeful. He had to get his sister as far away from that man as fast as possible.

As he hit the interstate, his adrenaline rush began to cool and his heart rate slowed back to normal. He pushed air through his lungs as he checked his mirrors. There was no sign of Robert following them.

He glanced back at Sarah through the rearview mirror and his heart kicked. She looked so pitiful. It had been only three days since he’d last seen her but she had fresh injuries—a black bruise forming around her left eye and a gash on her swollen lip. And he was sure more bruises were hidden by the baggy clothes she wore. He bit back his anger. “Are you okay?”

She looked ready to fall apart at any moment, but she hugged herself tightly and nodded. “I’m all right.”

He couldn’t forget the terror that had ripped through him when he’d finally gotten her messages. He’d been locked down working on a case and hadn’t charged his phone all night. When he’d finally checked it, he’d found six voice mails from Sarah, each one more hysterical than the previous. She’d been alone with Robert, terrified, with no one to help her.

Help me, Andrew.

I need you.

I’m scared.

Her last call had been from the hospital early this morning to let him know she was okay and that Robert had been arrested, but by the time he’d arrived at the hospital, Sarah had already left, choosing to return home. He’d promised to be there for her, but when it mattered, he’d dropped the ball.

But how had she ended up with Jessica Taylor?

He’d long suspected Jessica had friends on the police force who alerted her when they spotted a woman in trouble. He turned to look at her. She was known to be quick to respond, to offer help. He couldn’t deny her passion for her cause. Nothing deterred her from helping those in her care. She was always ready and willing to stick her neck out to help another woman in need. Usually that sort of behavior would strike him as irrational and impulsive, but with his sister’s safety on the line, he was glad for Jessica’s gutsy determination and passionate devotion to her cause.

She gingerly touched a place on the side of her head. Her hand came back with blood.

Alarm flooded him. “You need to go to the hospital.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You’re bleeding.” He pulled to the side of the road. “Sarah, hand me my gym bag.” He dug through it and found a clean towel then pressed it against Jessica’s wound, his hand cradling her face. Her skin was soft, softer than he would have ever imagined, softer than he’d expected it to be, given her tough exterior. His fingers brushed her lips accidentally and she trembled but refused to look at him. In fact, she did all she could to avoid looking at him despite how close their faces were.

His gaze perused her heart-shaped face and the slender, regal line of her neck. Strands of long blond hair framed lovely brown eyes and full, pink lips that had never cracked a smile, at least not while he was around.

Everything about her was alluring.

She finally locked eyes with him. “I said I’m fine.” She pushed his hand away.

Everything but her holier-than-thou attitude.

He sat back in his seat but held the towel out to her. “Use this to stop the bleeding until we get to the hospital.”

“I said no hospital. We need to get your sister to the shelter.”

“You need stitches.”

“Sarah is my priority. Head downtown,” Jessica instructed him.

“Fine.” He didn’t bother arguing with her. They’d butted heads enough times for him to know that once Jessica Taylor made up her mind there was little chance of changing it, especially when it concerned the safety of someone she’d vowed to protect.

She directed him toward an area off State Street. Tucked between a printing company and a storage facility was a brick office building with the painted title “Dean’s Den” on the front. He parked and Jessica jumped out of the car, obviously intent on proving she wasn’t hurt. She wobbled a bit but waved off any offer of help. He opened the back door and helped Sarah out. He put his arm around her, noting as he did her small frame. She’d always been petite, but today he could feel her bones. When was the last time she’d eaten?

At the front door, Jessica rang the bell. “Because this is an emergency shelter, we have a lot of different safety measures. This is one of them. No one comes in or out without signing the log.”

The door opened and a dark-eyed girl who looked to be no more than twenty let them inside.

“This is my assistant, Mia. If I’m not available she can handle anything you need,” Jessica said. “Mia, this is Sarah and her brother. Sarah is going to be staying with us.” Jessica continued to spout information as they walked down the hall. “We also have a state-of-the-art alarm system, security monitors and safety glass for the windows.”

“Sounds like prison,” Sarah muttered beside him.

Jessica, obviously hearing that comment, led them to a window overlooking the common area where several women were gathered around the coffee table while a small child played with blocks on the floor nearby. Jessica’s face softened as she addressed Sarah’s concerns. “We have a large kitchen, a play area for kids, daily Bible study plus a weekly support group. We’re currently housing five other women and four children. You’re not a prisoner here, but it is safer for you to remain inside as much as possible.”

Sarah nodded her understanding then turned back to staring at the child. Having always wanted children, she had a soft spot for them.

“Would you like to see the rest of the facility?” Jessica asked.

Before Sarah could say yes, Andrew stepped in. “We don’t need the tour. I’m taking her home with me.”

Jessica’s eyes pierced him as she looked his way. “That’s a bad idea. We have the resources to protect her. Isn’t that what you want?”

He wasn’t in the mood to argue. He’d made up his mind. Sarah was not staying. But before he could voice his objection, Sarah spoke.

“She’s right. Robert doesn’t know about this place. He won’t know to look for me here.”

“Sarah, I can protect you.”

“Staying here sounds a lot safer than being locked up in your apartment. Besides, what about your job? What will I do when you have to go to work? I don’t want to be there alone. At least here I have other people to talk to.”

He took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly. “We’ll work all that out. I want you to come home with me.”

She looked to Jessica then slipped her hands from his. “I think this is the best choice for me right now. What if Robert returns and you’re not there...like you weren’t last night.”

All the air left his lungs at her statement. He’d promised to keep her safe and he’d already failed her.

Jessica motioned toward Mia. “Will you show Sarah to a room?”

Sarah turned to go with the girl then ran back to Andrew and hugged him tightly. “Thank you, big brother, for everything. I love you.”

The urge to pray for her safety flooded him, a leftover remnant of his old life. He shoved that urge back far down in the depths of his soul. Who would he be praying to, anyway? An absent God that didn’t hear his prayers? Or a God that heard but allowed bad things to happen anyway? Prayer had done nothing to save the woman he’d loved, and he wasn’t going to depend on it for his sister’s safety, either.

He turned to face Jessica. Was he really ready to depend on her to make sure Sarah was out of harm’s way?

Jessica, at least, unlike God, had never let him down.

* * *

Jessica saw his pained expression as Sarah disappeared around the corner. That look of protectiveness caught her breath as she realized this entire situation was too familiar for comfort.

Overprotective brother.

Vulnerable sister.

And a dangerous, obsessed abuser.

She’d been here before, and it had not turned out well.

“So what do we do now?” Andrew asked turning back to her.

“Now we wait.” Jessica motioned him into her office. Once there, she kicked off her heels and enjoyed the coolness of the concrete floor on her tired feet. She slid into her desk chair and watched as Andrew swept her office with a critical eye. It wasn’t much. Everything from the couch to the bookshelves had been donated, but Jessica had tried to give the room a homey feel with a few throw rugs and photographs. She’d tried to do the same throughout the shelter. Donated didn’t have to mean trashy.

“What do you mean we wait? Wait for what?”

“For Robert to make his move.”

“What kind of move?”

“Generally one of three things happen—he’ll decide it isn’t worth it and move on to someone else—”

“I like that.”

“Or he’ll see the error of his ways and agree to go to counseling and anger management classes.”

She smiled at the way his expression changed from optimistic encouragement to disgust and loathing.

“I don’t care for that one, either.” She finished her list. “Or he’ll continue escalating, in which case we’ll have to make different arrangements for Sarah.”

“You forgot the one where he goes to jail and stays there.”

“I wish it were that simple.” She folded her arms and looked at him. He wasn’t some ordinary person off the street. He was a prosecutor. He knew better than anyone how the system worked. “You of all people know we’re not going to get more than a misdemeanor charge for this assault.”

He pulled up a chair and sat down, leaning his elbows into his knees and letting out a long, weary sigh. “I know. But I also know he won’t stop. He’s—what did you call it—escalating.”

“I agree.” She’d caught the evil intent in his eye. They hadn’t seen the last of him yet. “Tomorrow morning we’ll take Sarah down to the precinct so she can give her statement and swear out a complaint against him. She refused to do it at the hospital. It’s not much but it might keep him confined a little while longer. I will also notify the police that he violated his restraining order.”

“Do I need to be there?”

“No.”

“Good. I’ve got court in the morning.”

“Really?” She marveled at how clueless he was. “Didn’t you tell Sarah you could protect her if she went home with you? How were going to do that from the courthouse?” She could see his mind working, searching for an answer. Finally, he looked at her, his face set and determined. “I would do anything to get her away from that man.” He locked eyes with her. “Anything.”

A shiver raced up her spine at his determination to protect Sarah. Anything was a dangerous mantra to live by.

“Why didn’t you call me? I could have intervened before now.”

He pulled his hand through his hair. “I thought I could handle it. I tried to talk to her. I tried to convince her to leave him, but she wouldn’t.”

She got up and walked around the desk, towered over him as he sat. “What you did, Counselor, was to put me and your sister in jeopardy because you’re dealing with a psychology you don’t understand.”

“I put you in jeopardy?” He rose from his seat. “You placed yourself in a dangerous situation that you didn’t need to be in. But that’s nothing new for you, is it? Everyone in town knows you thrive on putting yourself at risk.”

“You’re the one who put me at risk when you didn’t get Sarah to the car like I said. You should have been out of the house and in the car before that situation had a chance to escalate.”

“What kind of man would I be if I left you to fight that maniac alone?”

Indignation swept through her. How dare he turn this around on her? “Don’t give me that macho bravado spin. You wanted him to see you leave with Sarah. You wanted him to know that you were going to stop him.”

“I did what I had to do to protect my sister.”

Without her heels, she had to look up at him, but that didn’t stop her from locking eyes with him and issuing a stern warning. “Your form of protection is going to get someone killed.”

She didn’t realize she was yelling until a voice from the doorway interrupted their conversation. “Children, children, behave.” They both turned at the reproach. Her friend Margo was standing in the doorway. She’d been the first friend Jessica made when she came to Jackson from Atlanta. She’d been instrumental in helping start and fund the shelter. Slim and athletic, she didn’t need the badge or gun at her hip to exude authority. It flowed from her personality.

Margo stepped between them. “I’m calling a time-out for you two kids. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” They both spoke in unison then turned away.

She glanced at Jessica and smirked as if knowing how childish Jessica felt at that moment. Margo always treated her like a mother hen and now she’d caught her playing tug-of-war with the school yard bully.

“Margo, this is Andrew Jennings. Andrew, this is my friend Detective Margo Stephens.”

He held out his hand but all Margo returned was a cold stare. “I know who you are. You let Tim Meadows slide with a three-month probation on misdemeanor assault.”

He pulled his hand back. “We almost didn’t get that. As I recall, Mrs. Meadows refused to testify about how she received her injuries. All we had to prosecute was the bystander he punched.”

She turned back to Jessica. “What’s he doing here?”

“I’m helping his sister.” She saw the surprised look Margo gave her. “Sarah needs help, regardless of who her brother is.”

Margo’s eyes widened and she rushed to Jessica’s side. “You’re bleeding.”

Jessica touched the spot on her head. The pain had already faded from a jackhammer into an ice pick jabbing into one spot on her temple. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

She pulled away from Margo’s grasp, hating being treated like a child for the second time today. “No, I’m going home. I can’t wait for a long soak in a hot bath. After that, I’ll be fine.”

“Well, where is your car? It wasn’t in the parking lot.”

She’d forgotten. They’d left in Andrew’s car. “I had to leave it.”

Margo sighed. “Give me the address. I’ll go get it and bring it to you after my shift ends.”

She scribbled down the address and handed it to Margo along with a spare set of keys.

“I’ll take you home,” Andrew offered.

Margo turned to him. “She is not going anywhere with you, Counselor.”

Usually, Jessica didn’t allow anyone to know where she lived, but Andrew wasn’t just anyone. She knew him and despite their differences on past cases, he wasn’t the type to hand out her private address.

Plus his offer would save her from the loving rebuke Margo was sure to give her on the car ride to her house.

You have to be more careful, Jessica.

You have to think about your safety, Jessica.

Her friend meant well, but Jessica was too tired and too sore to argue tonight. “Thank you for the offer, Andrew. I accept.”

Margo shot her a curious look but didn’t belabor the point. “I’ll see you later, then.”

Jessica let Mia know they were leaving then walked with Andrew to his car.

But as he opened the passenger door for her and she slid inside, she realized how uncharacteristically quick she’d agreed to let him drive her. She’d trusted him so easily and not only because she knew him in a professional sense. She’d seen beneath the shell of the man he projected to the media and the courtroom and she’d caught a glimpse into his soul. Since the moment he’d pulled Sarah into his arms, ever since she’d seen the protectiveness in him, her opinion of him had been altered. He was no longer just the spoiled rich golden boy of the D.A.’s office. He was more than that now. He now possessed a quality that made him even more attractive than good looks or charm or expensive suits could ever do.

Or had he always had that quality and she’d just never noticed?

She recalled that moment in the car when he’d touched her face, his fingers gentle and nimble on her wound. He’d leaned so close she could hear the pounding of his heart and feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Her heart fluttered at the memory just as it had at the moment.

She blew out a breath and turned her head away as Andrew started the car and drove.

Maybe getting into the car with him again wasn’t such a good idea. She had to remain strong and in control. She wouldn’t allow herself to become one of the many women falling over themselves to get Andrew Jennings to notice her.

TWO

Jessica directed him toward a subdivision outside of town. The neighborhood seemed quaint and quiet with rows of older houses. Jessica pointed to a white single-storied house with a large front porch as hers.

He parked in the driveway, then shut off the engine.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said, then opened the door and hopped out without waiting for him.

“I’ll walk you to the door,” Andrew said, getting out and following her.

She stopped him at the porch steps. “That’s not necessary.”

“I should be going, anyway. Thank you for your help with Sarah today. I’ve been trying for months to get her to leave Robert. You’re right. I should have come to you sooner.”

She stopped him as he turned to walk away. “Why didn’t you?”

For months he’d worried about Sarah, pleaded with her to get help. He’d even picked up the phone to call Jessica several times. He shrugged and admitted the truth. “You and I have been at odds so many times I suppose I was afraid you might turn me away, and I didn’t know what I would do if you did that.”

“Andrew, we’ve had our disagreements over cases, but why would you think I would turn you down? We’re not enemies. We’re both on the same side—helping people.” She reached for his hand and squeezed it and a singe of electricity rushed through him, kick-starting his pulse into high gear. Her touch had had a calming effect on him earlier but was now having the opposite effect.

“Really? Tell that to your friend Margo.”

“Margo is just very passionate. She knew Alicia Meadows. She’d counseled her several times. Then, she was one of the detectives who responded to the scene the day Tim Meadows shot her then himself.”

“I wish I could have done more to protect her. If there had been anything else—”

“You did what you could. Sometimes the law just isn’t enough.”

He didn’t like the sound of that. Was she implying she would go outside the law to protect those in her care?

Or that she had?

Jessica spun at the crunch of leaves on the other side of the porch. He saw her—felt it really—tense. Her eyes widened and she gripped the railing. He would almost say it was fear that crossed her face.

But before he could check to see who was approaching, he heard the distinct yapping of a dog.

Jessica seemed to relax at that sound. “It’s just my next door neighbor.”

A moment later, a robust, elderly, grandmotherly type woman appeared in the light, a tiny Yorkshire on a leash yapping and dancing at her feet. “Hush, Marlon,” she scolded the dog.

Jessica leaned over the railing. “Hello, Mrs. Brady. How are you tonight?”

She smiled a genuine smile that stretched across her face. “I’m doing very well, Jessica. I was in a baking mood today so I made this for the girls at the shelter. I thought they could use a little treat.” She handed Jessica the cake plate she was carrying. “It’s Pineapple Upside Down cake.”

“I’m sure they’ll love it, Mrs. Brady. Thank you.”

The older woman glanced up at him. The look of curiosity on her face told him that finding Jessica with a man at her house wasn’t a common occurrence.

Jessica was quick to introduce him. “This is A.D.A. Andrew Jennings. We are working on a case together.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Brady.”

“Yes, nice to meet you, too.” She turned back to Jessica. “My ladies’ group is also knitting some mittens for the children. I know it’s warm today but we’ve already had two cold snaps and it’s only October.”

“That’s very kind of you. I know they’ll appreciate it.”

Mrs. Brady aimed her next comments toward him. “Since Mr. Brady passed away I haven’t had much to occupy my days except doing for others. I wasn’t blessed with children of my own so I’ve got no grandbabies to spoil. My sister has been hounding me for years to move in with her, but all her family is up north and it’s too cold there. No, Marlon and I are very happy here, aren’t we, Marlon?”

The little dog yapped his response.

“Would you like to come inside for a moment?”

“No, thank you. I’m right in the middle of pounding out pie crusts. I was watching out my window to make sure I saw when you came home. I wanted to catch you to give you that cake.” She picked up her dog. “I really should get back. Take care.”

Jessica watched until she and Marlon made it to her house. She placed the dish on the railing. “Her kitchen overlooks my yard so she can see people coming or going.”

“It’s nice to have people watching out for you.”

“In my line of work it’s a necessity. Who knows when some angry, vengeful husband or boyfriend might decide to follow me home? I have all the necessary precautions—alarm system, dead bolts, timed lights, even an automatic garage-door opener—but it’s still nice to know I’ve got another pair of eyes looking out for me.”

“I guess you make a lot of enemies in your job. You certainly made one in Robert today.”

“I know. It’s a risk of my job.”

A risk she was only too willing to take. Just like Tory. “I should go. I have to be in court tomorrow morning. I’m in the middle of a case.”

“Yes, the Trevino trial. How is that going?”

“Good. Jury selection is over. We start opening remarks tomorrow.”

“I’ll be at the courthouse tomorrow. Maybe I’ll see you.”

He nodded then turned and walked away. He avoided looking back at the house as he headed to his car but heard the sound of the door close.

His brain swam with conflicting thoughts. He’d worked with Jessica many times before and her presence had never elicited this kind of reaction in him. In fact, she usually had the effect of annoying and frustrating him in their dealings. But today something had been different between them, something that had left him both electrified and apprehensive at the same time.

He’d spent the two years since Tory’s death throwing himself into work and avoiding personal contact. Today, he’d crossed that boundary without even seeing the line.

It was time to focus on his case again. But at least he knew Sarah was in good hands.

* * *

Jessica hit the light switch and scanned the room carefully before coming inside and locking the door behind her. Nothing seemed out of place. The butterfly on her prayer quilt was upright on her chair. The books on the window ledge were in order by title. No one would get through the window without her knowing. Her laptop was closed, the pen intentionally placed atop it still in its position.

Yet she had the eerie feeling someone was watching her and she thought she smelled men’s cologne.

Get a grip, Jessica.

It was probably only the aftereffects of her confrontation with Robert Young, but her emotions were on edge.

She checked the rest of the house but found no evidence that anyone had been there. Convinced she was imagining the strange scent, she set the pineapple upside down cake on the coffee table, certain Mrs. Brady had brought over that cake only as a means to check on her. It wasn’t every day— In fact, she’d never before brought a man to her home.

She should have invited him in for coffee. It was innocent and she trusted Andrew. And after the day’s events with Robert Young, the house seemed so dark and empty. She was tired of doing her usual routine of checking behind every door and inside every closet just to assure herself that no one was there. For once, she wanted to return home without being afraid.

Dean’s Den was her baby, her ministry, but even though she routinely stayed there for days on end, she enjoyed having a home of her own, a sanctuary where she could hide out and recharge after confronting so much violence and suffering.

But lately, she’d been praying about whether or not to keep it.

Was it right for her to have such a place when those she counseled had none? She sighed, thinking of the greater benefit her rent money could go to—new bed sheets, more games for the kids, another counseling room.

And even though she’d felt God leading her in that direction, He hadn’t yet provided her the clear sign she needed to make the change.

She was usually keyed up after a difficult confrontation, but something about this encounter felt different to her. She’d taken out her frustration on Andrew back at the shelter but truthfully it was herself she was mad at. She’d lost her professionalism. She’d looked into Robert’s eyes and seen a familiar face—a face that still haunted her even after all this time.

Mitch.

She rubbed her hand over the goose egg on her temple. Why was all this coming up now? It had more to do with Andrew than it did with Robert. He reminded her so much of Dean in the way he’d held on to Sarah. He’d risked his life and his career to help her.

Just as Dean had once done for her.

She picked up the photograph of her brother from the bookcase. She and Andrew didn’t always have to see eye to eye for her to help him. Whatever she had to do she vowed she would do it. She would not allow Andrew to give up his life to protect Sarah.

Her stomach clutched as a wave of loneliness enveloped her. She was twenty-six years old. Her heart insisted that was too young to give up on love, but her mind knew better. She’d already been down that road once before only to have it end in tragedy. She had no illusions about love and relationships.

Yet when she’d stared into Andrew’s fierce green eyes...

She pushed those thoughts away. Of course he was handsome. Every woman in the television viewing area knew he was handsome.

But she would never again be fooled by a handsome face and boyish charm.

* * *

Leslie Wells, the receptionist at the district attorney’s office, met Andrew as he walked through the door. “He wants to see you.”

Andrew glanced at his watch. He’d been gone for several hours after getting Sarah’s messages. He didn’t even bother going to his office first to drop off his coat and briefcase. He knocked on Bill’s door then stepped inside. “You wanted to see me?”

Bill Foster leaned back in his chair, folded his arms and studied Andrew. “You didn’t answer my calls.”

“I know. I apologize. I had an emergency.

“You know who does return my calls? Jason Clark. He said you didn’t come back after the lunch recess then went missing most of the afternoon.”

Andrew grimaced. Jason Clark was a first-year attorney fresh out of law school with a lot of ambition and an oversize ego. “I had an emergency with my sister.” He hated using that excuse again but he had no choice. He’d kept Bill in the loop about what was happening with Sarah and, so far, his boss had been reasonable about giving him the necessary time. But with the election season about to go into full swing and Bill eyeing the state’s attorney general position, Andrew knew he had to watch his step. “I can assure you everything is fine now. Sarah is safe and my focus is now solely on this trial.”

“This is a big case for our office, Andrew. A conviction could do a lot to benefit your career.”

Brian Trevino was a career criminal with multiple counts of home invasion on his rap sheet. He’d already served two stretches for burglary at Parchman Prison and now he was on trial for two counts of homicide related to a home invasion where he’d killed a fifty-two-year-old couple when they awoke and discovered him inside their home. A conviction would do wonders for Bill’s campaign.

“We’re ready.”

“Good. I’ll be stopping by the courthouse tomorrow. I think I’ll bring CJ along with me and let her see how a good trial lawyer does his job.”

Andrew understood his meaning. CJ Bennett was another up-and-coming attorney in the office. She’d been biting at Andrew’s tail to grab the biggest and most profiled cases she could get. She was hungry to make a name for herself. Bill’s not-so-veiled threat was clear—do a good job on the trial or he might find his attentions turning toward CJ instead of him.

“I won’t let you down, Bill.”

“I hope not, for your sake.”

Andrew accepted the admonishment and left. He dropped his coat in his office as he gathered his files. His team was scheduled to meet in the conference room for a last-minute strategy session. And the number one item on Andrew’s agenda for the meeting was to ream Jason Clark about squealing to the boss.

* * *

Jessica’s cell phone buzzed, alerting her to a message. She checked it and saw it was from Margo. Perhaps she hadn’t gotten out of that rebuke, after all.

Her friend was at the door a moment later. “I cannot believe you did that,” Margo said, storming into the house. The disapproving look on her face was not surprising. It was no secret what her friend was referring to—going to Sarah’s house alone.

“It was an emergency situation. The husband was escalating. The wife needed to get out. I saw an opening and I took it.”

“You should have called me before you went over there. Did Mr. ‘Oh, I’m so wonderful’ convince you to go?”

“No, actually, I have a friend in the Pearl Police Department who called me. He said Robert Young was a maniac, and he was right. Sarah was in real danger staying there. Andrew has reason to be concerned about her.”

“That man doesn’t even know the meaning of the phrase ‘real danger.’”

Margo stopped and glanced around. “Is he here?”

“Of course not. Why?”

“I smell men’s cologne.”

Jessica shuddered. So she hadn’t been imagining it. “I noticed it too when I came in.”

Margo placed her hand on the weapon at her hip as she scanned the room. She walked cautiously toward the kitchen and glanced around before moving to the desk. She pushed through the stack of mail until she reached a postcard. As she sniffed it, her body relaxed and she released the hold on her gun.

“For a moment, I thought you’d invited Mr. Hottie A.D.A. over for coffee.”

Jessica saw the card was an advertisement for men’s cologne complete with a sample scent. She felt heat rise in her face both at her silly concerns and the insinuation Margo made. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Why is that ridiculous? I saw the way you two were going at it in your office.”

“We were arguing. The man is intolerable. All he cares about is getting his handsome face in the newspaper.” She felt heat rise in her face as she realized that despite their previous interactions and the opinions she’d had about him until now, she could no longer say that.

Margo grinned. “So you think he’s handsome?”

Jessica snatched the card from her. “I think he thinks he’s handsome.” She sniffed the card, remembering the musky scent of Andrew’s aftershave. “What I know is he has no idea what the women we counsel endure and no desire to learn. He didn’t want Sarah to stay. He still thinks he can handle this all himself.”

“Well he was right about one thing—you placed yourself in a dangerous situation...again. I wish you’d let me teach you to shoot.”

Margo was always pushing her to buy a gun, but each time Jessica considered it, she flashed back to that terrible night five years earlier. Dean had spent hours with her at the gun range, but all the training in the world hadn’t done her any good at the moment it really mattered. “Margo, I appreciate the self-defense lessons, but I’m just not comfortable around guns.”

“You deal with dangerous men. You need to do a better job of protecting yourself.”

“I take all the precautions I can.”

“You should stay at the shelter.”

Jessica gave a weary sigh. “If it were up to you, I’d live at the shelter.”

“You’d be safer.”

Safety, she’d learned, too often became a prison. That was something Margo didn’t yet understand. She was still too tied up in her own pain and fear.

Margo gave her a piercing look, obviously realizing she wasn’t going to get anywhere. She stood to leave. “I should go. I had a rookie follow me here. He’s waiting in the car. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I’m always careful.” She closed and locked the door behind her friend then reset the alarm.

She sniffed the postcard, relieved this was the origination of the scent. Why hadn’t she thrown that away yesterday with the rest of her junk mail? She had no desire to purchase men’s cologne.

She had no one to purchase it for.

* * *

Jessica had a busy morning ahead of her. She couldn’t afford the headache that insisted on hanging on overnight. She swallowed two pain relievers then tossed the bottle into her purse. She had a feeling she would be needing it again to get through the day.

She called the shelter to check on things. Mia updated her on the goings-on including heated words between two of their residents—Joan Ratliff, a pregnant mother with a two-year-old, and Amber Wade, a mother of three who’d fled her alcoholic husband for the third time. “What happened there?”

“Just rising tension. Danielle stepped in and calmed them down.”

Jessica was glad for the assistance of Danielle Manchester, a young college-aged girl whose boyfriend had beaten and stalked her. Danielle was always quick to help care for Joan’s baby or occupy Amber’s kids. Still, four children under eight years old confined to a small area was bound to grate on everyone’s nerves. Tensions were certain to rise. “Maybe it would be a good idea to take the kids to the park today. Just don’t forget to take your cell phone in case there’s trouble.”

“There’s one more thing,” Mia said.

Jessica heard the hesitation in her voice. “What is it?”

“It’s Sarah. She’s determined she’s not going to press charges against her husband. She’s worried about him going to jail.”

Jessica sighed, disappointed but not really surprised. It wasn’t uncommon for a battered wife to refuse to press charges.

“Reassure her that she doesn’t have to press charges to stay at the shelter. I’ll try to talk to her too when I get there.”

“She wanted me to ask if you would be the one to tell her brother.”

This wasn’t the first time she’d been asked to step between families, but it was the first time she’d hesitated. She knew from their conversation the night before that Sarah was right—Andrew would not be happy with her decision. He probably wouldn’t be too happy with Jessica, either. But he wasn’t the one she’d promised to protect. Sarah was her client and she had to do the best she could for her.

“I’ll talk to him,” she promised, already knowing how she would regret that conversation.

She hung up then tossed her phone into her purse, slid on her coat and grabbed her laptop and a stack of papers she had to attend to today. She locked the door behind her. Her car was in the driveway, and she said a silent prayer of thanks to Margo for taking care of getting it home to her.

A layer of frost covered the lawn and a bitter wind tousled her hair. She pulled her jacket tight and stepped off the porch, scanning the yard and street for anything out of the ordinary. She quickened her pace as she headed toward her car.

She stopped before she reached it, noticing the line of footprints in the frosty grass.

She glanced around again but saw nothing and no one unusual in the area. But someone had been in her yard, near her car. The footprints followed the line of the driveway, stopping at the end of the porch.

Someone had been here.

She cautiously approached her car, scanning for broken glass, slashed tires or anything out of the ordinary. It looked fine. She tried the door but found it locked as it should have been. A quick glance into the backseat revealed no one crouched behind the seat. She hated that her mind automatically went in that direction, but the footprints did seem to indicate an intruder in her yard.

“Good morning, Jessica.”

She startled at her name and her heart raced. It was only Mr. Percy, her elderly neighbor from two houses down, out for his morning stroll.

“Mr. Percy, how are you today?”

“I can’t complain. I’m surprised to see you out and about. You should tell your friend to park your car in the garage next time. A pretty young girl like you doesn’t need to be coming and going late at night like you sometimes do without taking precautions.”

Trepidation filled her. “You watch me?”

“Well, I don’t sleep all that well so I pay attention to any car that comes down this street at night. We can’t be too careful these days, can we?”

That explained the feeling she’d had lately of being observed. It had only been the watchful eyes of sweet old Mr. Percy. Why didn’t that soothe her nerves? “You haven’t noticed anyone in my yard, have you?” She pointed out the footprints. “Have you seen anything odd lately? Anyone around the neighborhood that doesn’t belong?”

“No, can’t say I have. You know I did see Mrs. Cowart’s son out walking the dog this morning. It’s possible the little guy got away from him and he chased him into your yard.”

Jessica stared at the footprints. They didn’t look as if they’d been made by a fourteen-year-old’s foot. But how big did a teenage boy’s feet get? She didn’t know.

“I’ll let you get going,” he said. “Have a blessed day.”

“You, too. Goodbye, Mr. Percy.”

She waved to him then walked back to her car. She stared at the footprints and felt silly for overreacting again. They didn’t have to mean anything. Perhaps Mr. Percy was right and some neighbor had been chasing a loose pet during an early-morning walk. After all, she’d heard nothing during the night. She shook off her fears. There was nothing sinister about this situation. So someone had been in her yard. It was probably an innocent matter, certainly nothing to freak out about.

She hopped into her car and started it quickly before the paranoia overtook her. She hated the way she kept reverting back to it. She couldn’t continue to allow Mitch to have such control over her. Would she never overcome her past? Would she never be free from fear?

* * *

Knowing Andrew would be in court most of the day, Jessica spent the morning trying to convince Sarah to press charges against her husband, but nothing she said would change the young woman’s mind. Sarah was scared and hurt, but she was still clinging to her loyalty to her husband. Unfortunately, Jessica had seen this type of misplaced loyalty many times before.

Finally, Jessica could stall no more. It was time to face Andrew and break the news to him about Sarah’s decision. She drove to the courthouse and parked. After locating the courtroom where the Trevino trial was taking place, she slipped inside and took a seat near the back, hoping she could catch a moment to speak to Andrew during a break.

This wasn’t the first time she’d seen him in prosecutor mode, but it was the first time she’d had no ties to the case so she had no reason to analyze his tactics. Instead, she watched the length of his stride, the swagger in his step and the way he charmed the jury with his boyish grin as he made opening remarks. The case he portrayed sounded solid. She glanced at the jury members. They were responding to him, watching him as he moved, leaning forward to hang on his every word. They trusted him.

She smiled. She understood their reaction. It was easy to trust him.

He caught her eye when he turned. A small smile played on his lips. Her face burned with embarrassment, knowing she’d been admiring not his work but his physical presence. And he’d just caught her doing it.

When the judge recessed for the day, Andrew scooped up his briefcase and headed her way. “Hi, Jessica, do you have an interest in this case?”

She felt her face redden as she realized the only interest she had in this case was standing right in front of her. “Not really. I need to talk to you.”

His brows scrunched in worry. “Did something happen to Sarah?” He pulled out his phone to check his messages.

“Sarah’s fine.” Jessica reached her hand out to stop him, but when her fingers touched his arm, a jolt of electricity caused her to momentarily forget what she wanted to say. She stared up into his questioning eyes as he waited for her to finish. “There is something we need to discuss.”

He glanced at his watch then back at a group of people standing across the room. Jessica recognized one of them as the district attorney.

“If now isn’t a good time, we can talk later.”

“No. Let’s talk now.” He took her arm and led her through the doors of the courtroom.

“This won’t take long.”

He led her to a bench outside the courtroom and they took a seat. Jessica noticed the D.A. glancing toward them.

“If you really need to go...” She pointed his way.

He shook his head. “I’ll catch up with him later. What’s going on?”

“It’s Sarah. She is refusing to press charges against Robert. She won’t testify against him either if the D.A.’s office decides to pursue the case.”

His whole body seemed to clench. “What? Why?”

“She’s afraid. It’s not an uncommon phenomenon.”

“I’ll talk to her.”

The sternness in his tone bit at her. “You can’t bully her into making this decision. She has to take these steps on her own.”

“I’m not going to bully her. I’m just going to help her along.”

She knew his kind of “helping.” “You can’t do that.”

“Why not? I’m her brother.”

“You just can’t. All you’ll do is push her away.”

He grumbled and rubbed his face. Frustration dripped from every muscle. “I don’t even understand my sister anymore.”

“Control is a difficult thing to give up.”

“It’s better than giving up your life, isn’t it?”

“Said the man who is always in control.” Her thoughts slipped into words before she had a chance to stop them, but she didn’t care. The condescension in his voice rubbed her wrong. Who was he to judge anyone? He’d never been in Sarah’s situation.

Or hers.

“Wait a minute. How did this turn around to be about me? I haven’t done anything but try to help Sarah.”

“You judge her for the choices she’s made.”

“She’s made bad choices. That’s not my fault.”

“No, but a little understanding wouldn’t hurt. Isn’t she paying a high enough price? She doesn’t need her perfect brother looking down his nose at her, as well.” Jessica hopped up so fast she knocked over his briefcase.

Even as she stomped away she knew she was being irrational. Just being with him, listening to him, dredged up memories she’d tried to bury for years. It wasn’t Andrew’s fault, yet he was catching the blame.

He reminded her so much of Dean with his protective nature and the frustration in his voice. Dean hadn’t known how to help her, just as Andrew was finding it hard to take care of Sarah. She should be trying to make it easier for them both but instead she was struggling herself. After all these years, after all the families she’d counseled, why was this coming up now? And, more important, how did she stop it from happening so she could focus on her job?

She rushed down the courthouse steps and walked quickly toward her car, aware that Andrew was behind her. She couldn’t—wouldn’t—let him see the tears pressing to let loose.

She stopped as she neared her car and noticed something on her windshield. Beneath the wiper, she spotted a white envelope. It wouldn’t have caught her attention as anything more than a flyer if a bright red rose wasn’t sitting on top of it.

Andrew caught up to her. “We need to talk about this. What did I say that upset you?”

She ignored his question and pulled the envelope from the windshield. Her name was typed in the center. She tore open the seal and pulled out a folded piece of paper. The note was typed and unsigned, but the five little words stopped her cold. She quickly scanned the area. No familiar faces jumped out at her, but someone had been at her car. Someone had left this note for her to find. This she couldn’t write off as paranoia.

Andrew noticed her demeanor. He reached out and touched her arm. “You’re shaking.” His voice grew stern. “What’s the matter?”

She held out the note and he read it.

You can’t stop true love.

Someone was out there taunting her, watching her, stalking her. And no one knew better than Jessica not to take this threat lightly.

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