Read Online All or Nothing: A Trust No One Novel by Dixie Lee Brown - Free Book Online Page B

and went out on my own. Started my own training facility. Turns out there are plenty of government and law enforcement agencies that need my expertise. I can be selective about who I train and get paid a hell of a lot more than Murphy wanted to shell out. Plus, I contract my services to a few handpicked agencies, which gets me out in the field enough I don’t get bored.”
    Joe’s story, though brief, wasn’t what she’d expected. That he worked for government and law enforcement reassured her somewhat. At least he’d come by his dangerous skills honestly. She admired his dedication and desire to make a difference. There was more than one side to this man. Perhaps she’d misjudged him.
    “So, the first family didn’t die or go missing on your watch?” Her lips curved in a teasing grin.
    The intensity in his expression made her breath catch. “I’m good at what I do. No one gets hurt on my watch.”
    His eyes held hers until she forced herself to look away, searching for another topic. “Do you have family?”
    “My parents live in Arizona. I talk to them at Christmas, but that’s about it.”
    She frowned. Sounded like her and her father. No need to dwell on that.
    “Siblings?”
    “Only child.”
    “Wife? Kids?”
    “No.”
    “Girlfriend?”
    “As a rule, women have a problem with my profession and the lifestyle that goes with it.”
    “Uh-huh, but you didn’t answer my question.”
    Joe’s expression went blank. Then he scowled and, for a moment, pain reflected in his eyes. “I was engaged once.”
    “Get cold feet?”
    He continued as though she hadn’t spoken. “Her name was Jenny. We grew up together. When I went off to Afghanistan, she decided to do something equally foolish. She became a U.S. Deputy Marshal. A week before our wedding, she took a bullet protecting some sleazeball witness in a racketeering trial. Died instantly.”
    “I’m so sorry, Joe.” Cara groaned. She shouldn’t have let it get so personal. Why didn’t he just tell her to mind her own business? If only she could take away the hurt caused by her careless probing. He stared out the window for so long she felt compelled to reach out and touch his arm.
    He shrugged his broad shoulders as though shaking off the bad memories. “Ancient history. Now it’s my turn.” He rushed on without waiting for her to agree. “How did you get hooked up with David Dennelli?”
    “No, that’s not open for discussion.” She turned away from him. “Pick a different topic.”
    “I answered all your questions, and some of them were pretty damn hard. You owe me.” He touched her chin and turned her back from the window to face him.
    “I don’t want to talk about him.”
    “What’s the big deal? If you get some of that off your chest, Dennelli won’t have all the power anymore. Any shrink will tell you that.”
    Was that possible? Could the specter of David be banished just by giving voice to his cruelty? She watched Joe, not sure she believed him. Not sure how much she should tell.
    “Not to mention, it would go a long ways toward eliminating our trust issues.” He smiled. “Talking about this could catapult us right up to friend status.”
    In spite of herself, she laughed. “Let’s not get carried away.”
    He grasped her hand comfortably in his. Even as the warmth of his touch reassured her, she stared at him in surprise. For the first time since they’d met, the walls she’d built around herself began to crack, and she wasn’t entirely sure that was a good thing.
    “Okay, but you drive, or fly, or whatever it is you do. I don’t want to see your face, and I especially don’t want to see you feeling sorry for me.”
    “You got it.” He saluted and turned to face the front.
    Cara was glad he kept her hand tucked within his. She needed his strength and warmth. Even with it, cold settled in her heart.
    “I met David at Oregon State four years ago. He was a journalism student on the debate team and spent most of his