Read Online Safe from Harm by Kate Serine - Free Book Online Page B

previous—or, hell, current for all she knew—conquests.
    She gave herself a quick mental shake as she strode toward her black Honda Accord, but her steps faltered when she got closer and one of her tires was flat. Her embarrassment from her visit with Gabe was replaced by fury. “Are you freaking kidding me?”
    She quickly did a mental map of all the places she’d gone that morning, wondering if she’d driven through a construction zone or over any road debris, but when she was within a couple of feet of her car, she noticed it wasn’t just a flat tire. A jagged scratch ran the length of her door where someone had keyed the paint job.
    Clearly not an accident.
    â€œSon of a bitch!”
    It was like the universe was trying to smack her upside the head to clue her in that allowing herself to get even a little close to Gabe was a mistake. Clearly, she shouldn’t have gone to the hospital that day. The only bigger sign would’ve had to be in flashing neon, for crying out loud.
    She heaved a sigh and fished her phone out of her pocket to call a tow truck. Then she phoned her Aunt Charlotte, leaving her a message to fill her in, leaving out the part about seeing Gabe half-naked and nearly kissing him.
    She’d just hung up when a Fairfield County sheriff’s car pulled up behind her. “Hey, Elle. Need some help?”
    She turned to see Gabe’s younger brother Joe. “Hey. No thanks. Tow truck’s on the way. But thanks. Are you still on duty?”
    Joe didn’t bother suppressing a smile. “Just got off. Thought I’d stop in and see my brother for a few minutes before I meet up with Sadie. She’s having her ultrasound today. Have you seen her?”
    Elle shook her head, sorry to have missed Joe’s fiancée. She’d always liked Joe—he was a sweetheart and clearly adored Sadie, who had been the love of his life since they were all kids. Joe had nearly been killed while on deployment in Afghanistan and then had nearly lost Sadie when a crazy ex-boyfriend had stalked and threatened to kill her—and might have followed through had Joe not been there. Elle had definitely been glad to prosecute that asshole and make sure he served time for his crimes.
    Seeing Joe and Sadie so happy together now, seeing their joy as Sadie’s pregnancy progressed, Elle couldn’t help but be reminded of the family she’d once had, the joy that had filled her home growing up until all that had been so cruelly wrenched away. She prayed Joe and Sadie always had the love and happiness they had now—they certainly deserved it.
    â€œElle?”
    She started, realizing that he’d been talking to her. “Sorry,” she said with a little laugh. “I was distracted. Been kinda crazy, you know.”
    He nodded. “Yeah, I do. If you need to talk to anyone about what you’re going through… Well, I’ve been there.”
    He’d had his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder after he’d returned from the war. She could only imagine the kind of hell he’d experienced and what it had cost him to learn to cope.
    â€œThanks, Joe,” she told him sincerely. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind. Good luck with the ultrasound. And give Sadie my best.”
    He gave her a terse nod that seemed to be a trademark of the Dawson men and offered a wave as he drove off. While Elle waited for the tow truck to arrive, she tried not to dwell on the dark memories that haunted her and instead tried to focus on something positive—like the date she had coming up later in the week with an investment banker who had jokingly offered to take her to dinner in a little seaside spot in southern California after a short plane ride on his private jet. At least, she’d thought he was joking. But maybe not.
    Any woman would’ve been flattered to receive such an offer. And she had been. At the time. But every time she