didn’t tell him because you knew he’d lose his mind. That he’d forbid it.”
Forbid. The word sliced through her brain, bringing a wave of anger right behind it. “I’m a grown woman. My big brother doesn’t control what I do.”
This time Shane slammed the side of his hand against the table. “He wants you safe.”
There was a difference between safe and coddled. She wasn’t convinced Holt, or Shane for that matter, always saw the line. “I get that, but he doesn’t get to make choices for me.”
Shane’s back teeth slammed together. “I want you safe.”
Well... Her heart sped up and it had nothing to do with the argument. “I thought we were talking about Holt.”
“We’re talking about danger.” Shane closed his eyes as he visibly wrestled to control the anger bouncing around inside him. “That guy talked as if he knew where you live. He was here, a place you said you’ve never been.”
“Which is why I asked if we were followed.” She’d checked, looked and thought they were safe...until Jeff walked in the door. The idea of him being so close and staying unseen terrified her.
Shane’s mouth dropped open. “You’re blaming me?”
That was not what she meant. Not at all. She put a hand over his, letting the warmth of his skin seep into her and wipe away the chill. “I’m admitting that I do this job. On the side.”
“In secret.”
“It’s the only way to do it. The liars cover their tracks.”
He opened his hand and let her fingers slide through his. “Let someone else take over.”
She had to smile at that. “Says the guy who walks into danger every single day without asking someone to fill in for him.”
“I’m trained for it. You’re not.” He turned her hand over and rubbed a thumb over her palm.
The move, so gentle and sweet, had something fluttering inside her. She forced her mind to focus. “For the most part I sit and look things up. It’s completely safe.”
“Then why does Jeff Horvath know who you are and how to get to you?”
The diner started spinning. She’d fought so hard to control her life, and one moment months ago had ruined all that.
“Because I messed up.” She slipped her hand out from under his. “He was one of the first targets and I—”
“Targets?”
“—confronted him.”
“You did what?” Shane’s voice stayed flat and emotionless.
She looked away, but she could still see the moment. Filled with indignation and a sense of satisfaction, she’d stepped up to Jeff as he came out of church and told him, right there in front of his fiancée, that he’d been found out and now everyone would know. His business associates, his family, all the people he’d lied to for years, would know.
He’d claimed to be deployed while he played in Europe as a civilian. The tales of getting out early for some heroic act were even more ridiculous. She spewed it all in public instead of letting the website uncover him while she maintained her anonymity. A huge misstep she’d never made again, but the one time with Jeff was enough to keep her on edge.
She glanced at Shane again. Saw the rage bubbling under the surface and knew it was all for her. “Please don’t break out into a lecture.”
“I can’t, because I’m speechless.”
“You don’t need to exaggerate.”
His mouth opened twice before he spit out any words. “Do you have any idea what I’d do if someone hurt you?”
She’d waited forever for him to say something like that, and now he’d said it in a wave of fury. “No. You don’t exactly share your feelings. How am I even supposed to know you’d care?”
“I’d care.” He nodded toward her plate and the globs of now-cold cheese. “Fuel up, because we’re going to spend a lot of hours talking about this.”
She didn’t hide her wince. “I was afraid you’d say something like that.”
“You think fake military guys get angry? Wait until you hear this real retired army guy.” He stole a French fry off her plate.
“I should have gone with Cam,” she mumbled under her breath as she picked up her sandwich.
“Too bad, because you’re stuck with me.”
She wanted to hate that idea, but she couldn’t.
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