Instead, she shut down, wrapping both hands around the cup to warm her fingers.
“You dated a cop,” he guessed.
“That would never happen,” she muttered.
“Now you’ve piqued my interest.”
This man had saved her life. She owed him an explanation about why she vilified his occupation.
“I depended on cops and they let me down.”
“Cops, plural? What kind of sordid past do you have, Miss Harris?”
He was teasing, but the story was far from funny. And not one she necessarily wanted to repeat to a stranger.
“I could always do a little digging of my own,” he said. “What would I find? A string of broken-hearted police officers in your wake?”
She pinned him with angry eyes. “My father beat us and every time the cops came to investigate I expected them to help, but they never did. Sure, a few promised they’d get us out of there but did they ever follow through on their promises?” her voice cracked.
Alex touched her shoulder in a comforting gesture. “Take a breath. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
But she couldn’t stop the rant. “He said I could run, but I’d never escape. I’d never be safe. And he was right. Another monster is after me and there’s nothing I can do to stop him from trying to kill me, too.”
“Don’t talk like that. Hey.” He tipped her chin so she had to look into his warm blue eyes. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
For a second she was lost in the sincerity of his voice and concerned expression. Then common sense slapped her back to reality. She turned away and studied her cocoa. “I’m ready to go now.”
Out of the corner of her eye she could tell he watched her, assessing what to say next, if anything. No wonder he was confused. She was a powder keg, needy one minute and explosive the next, biting his head off when all he did was save her life.
She took a breath and glanced up to apologize, but he’d already opened the door. “Doctor Wendell?” he called into the hallway.
The doctor stepped into the examining room and looked from Alex to Nicole.
“She’s ready to go,” he said.
Dr. Wendell removed the IV and blankets. “Someone should check on her every few hours.”
“I’ve got it covered,” Alex said.
Meaning what? He was going stay close and protect Nic even though she’d been so incredibly rude to him? If only he hadn’t kept pushing her, trying to make light of her past. Yet how could he have known?
“You’re all set,” the doctor said. “You can return the scrubs tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” Nic said.
Doctor Wendell left them alone. Nic shifted off the bed and Alex offered his hand for support. She automatically took it and warmth shot up her arm. Incredible. How could his hand be warm when he had to be freezing from the damp clothing?
“You should get scrubs to wear out of here,” she suggested.
“I’ve got extra sweatshirts in the truck. I’ll get one for each of us.”
She realized they were still holding hands.
And she didn’t want to let go.
He must have read fear on her face—fear of depending on someone, fear of being let down again—because he slipped his hand from hers and opened the door.
“Wait,” she said.
He hesitated, but didn’t turn around.
“Thanks,” she said. “And I’m sorry.”
“You’re welcome, and there’s no need to apologize. I have a habit of poking around where I don’t belong. I’ll try not to let it happen again. Give me a minute to get the sweatshirts.”
He stepped out and shut the door with a click.
“I’m an idiot,” she whispered. After all, the detective just wanted to help.
Yet her frazzled emotional state was understandable considering what she’d been through tonight. Besides being a witness to murder, she’d nearly drowned.
But she didn’t, thanks to Detective Donovan’s CPR skills.
She leaned against the bright white wall and closed her eyes. What would happen next? Would federal agents whisk her away and detain her until she remembered something helpful? Would they be able to protect her from the killer who would surely try again?
She had no confidence in the police, but for some reason she trusted Alex. There was something about his deep voice infused with truth and integrity that demanded trust. Whatever came next, she hoped he’d be a part of it.
Someone knocked on the door. She figured it was Alex.
“Come in.”
The door popped open and a tall, bald man with a mustache, wearing a dark suit and aviator sunglasses flashed his badge. “I’m Special Agent Ted Maines with the FBI. You need to come with me.”
“But—”
“Please, ma’am. Time is critical. The killer eluded our search of the property. He could be anywhere, even in this medical center.” He motioned her out of the room.
She stepped out into the hall and he led her away. Nic kept glancing over her shoulder in search of Alex.
“Where are you going?” Doctor Wendell asked, speed walking to block them.
“FBI.” He flashed his badge over his shoulder at the doctor.
“You need to wait for Detective Donovan,” the doctor said.
“No, ma’am, I don’t.” He pulled Nic down the hall toward the back exit of the medical center.
This is why she hated law enforcement. They didn’t respect your feelings or opinions. They just took what they wanted. The agent shoved open the metal door and led her across the parking lot to a waiting SUV.
“Where are we going?”
Would she ever see Alex again?
“Someplace safe.”
A shudder raced down her back. There was no such place.
“No.” She struggled against his grasp. “Let me go!”
THREE
Talk about stepping into quicksand. Alex blew it in there, questioning Nicole to the
