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Authors: Dixie Lee Brown
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for the door. “No worries, Rayna. Alex will be just fine.”
He’d make sure she was. Whether he escaped in one piece was another matter.
Chapter 4
B Y THE TIME Nate completed two trips to the chopper and loaded his equipment into the cargo bay, Rayna and Alex had made themselves scarce. He still had an uneasy feeling about whether Alex was the right person to partner with. Still, she’d said she could handle his demands, and for some reason, he wanted to take her at her word.
Dropping off his last load, which included the first aid kit since Alex had already proven so accident-prone, he started for the house to pack a few things. Walker and Ty were in the kitchen making sandwiches.
Ty turned as Nate crossed the threshold. “Can I give you a hand? What do you have left to do?”
“I just need to throw a couple changes of clothes in a duffel and I’ll be ready.” Nate stopped and studied their handiwork. He hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours, and the display of sliced turkey, ham, and fresh tomatoes did a number on his empty stomach. “You could slam one of those together for me if you have time, buddy.”
“You got it.” Ty swung back to his preparations.
“Either of you seen Alex?” Nate almost hated to admit he didn’t know where she was, figuring that didn’t bode well for their little adventure together.
“She came in with Rayna a few minutes ago. I think they went upstairs.” Walker cocked his head, but didn’t ask what was obviously on his mind.
Nate ignored the silent question and headed for the upper floor. As he topped the stairs at a jog, a groan escaped him. The one person he didn’t care to run into leaned casually against the wall beside his bedroom door. Jim Brady had his ankles crossed and his thumbs hooked in his front pockets like he was settled in for the duration. Great. Just what Nate needed.
Jim straightened and stepped forward as Nate hit the landing and slowed to a walk.
“I owe you an apology.” Jim dipped his head self-consciously. “I’m a little overprotective when it comes to Alex. She gave me hell—said I misjudged you. No hard feelings?” Jim stuck out his hand.
Nate released the breath he’d been holding. “You had every right to be pissed off. I’d never have suggested she sleep in my room, however innocent, if I’d known you two were an item.”
A flush spread across Jim’s cheeks. “You got that all wrong. Alex and I are just friends, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
Nate reached for the man’s hand as an unexpected sense of relief stole over him. “I know the feeling.”
Jim’s gaze appraised him for a moment. A slow grin materialized, and he slapped Nate’s shoulder. “Excellent. She can always use another friend. I can’t be there all the time, and she takes a good deal of looking after.”
Nate turned toward his room as Jim walked away. “I’ll just bet she does.”
Encouraged by Jim’s vote of acceptance and especially by his declaration that he and Alex weren’t involved, Nate’s mood lightened as he threw a few items of clothing and some toiletries in his duffel bag. He had to search for his passport, but figured he better have it since there was a good chance he’d end up crossing the border. His bag in hand, he was making one more pass for anything he might have forgotten when his cell phone rang.
He’d been expecting Gina or Ashley to call ever since he’d given the news to Susie. His little sisters worried about him way too much, but now he’d brought the bad guys to their doors and they likely wouldn’t be very happy with him.
Without checking the caller ID, he answered in his usual fashion. “Sanders.”
“Detective. I understand you’re taking a few days off. Does that mean you’re leaving town?”
He hadn’t been expecting a male voice, and it was a few seconds before he recognized the caller. Daniels! How in the hell did Daniels get his number? For that matter, how
He’d make sure she was. Whether he escaped in one piece was another matter.
Chapter 4
B Y THE TIME Nate completed two trips to the chopper and loaded his equipment into the cargo bay, Rayna and Alex had made themselves scarce. He still had an uneasy feeling about whether Alex was the right person to partner with. Still, she’d said she could handle his demands, and for some reason, he wanted to take her at her word.
Dropping off his last load, which included the first aid kit since Alex had already proven so accident-prone, he started for the house to pack a few things. Walker and Ty were in the kitchen making sandwiches.
Ty turned as Nate crossed the threshold. “Can I give you a hand? What do you have left to do?”
“I just need to throw a couple changes of clothes in a duffel and I’ll be ready.” Nate stopped and studied their handiwork. He hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours, and the display of sliced turkey, ham, and fresh tomatoes did a number on his empty stomach. “You could slam one of those together for me if you have time, buddy.”
“You got it.” Ty swung back to his preparations.
“Either of you seen Alex?” Nate almost hated to admit he didn’t know where she was, figuring that didn’t bode well for their little adventure together.
“She came in with Rayna a few minutes ago. I think they went upstairs.” Walker cocked his head, but didn’t ask what was obviously on his mind.
Nate ignored the silent question and headed for the upper floor. As he topped the stairs at a jog, a groan escaped him. The one person he didn’t care to run into leaned casually against the wall beside his bedroom door. Jim Brady had his ankles crossed and his thumbs hooked in his front pockets like he was settled in for the duration. Great. Just what Nate needed.
Jim straightened and stepped forward as Nate hit the landing and slowed to a walk.
“I owe you an apology.” Jim dipped his head self-consciously. “I’m a little overprotective when it comes to Alex. She gave me hell—said I misjudged you. No hard feelings?” Jim stuck out his hand.
Nate released the breath he’d been holding. “You had every right to be pissed off. I’d never have suggested she sleep in my room, however innocent, if I’d known you two were an item.”
A flush spread across Jim’s cheeks. “You got that all wrong. Alex and I are just friends, but there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”
Nate reached for the man’s hand as an unexpected sense of relief stole over him. “I know the feeling.”
Jim’s gaze appraised him for a moment. A slow grin materialized, and he slapped Nate’s shoulder. “Excellent. She can always use another friend. I can’t be there all the time, and she takes a good deal of looking after.”
Nate turned toward his room as Jim walked away. “I’ll just bet she does.”
Encouraged by Jim’s vote of acceptance and especially by his declaration that he and Alex weren’t involved, Nate’s mood lightened as he threw a few items of clothing and some toiletries in his duffel bag. He had to search for his passport, but figured he better have it since there was a good chance he’d end up crossing the border. His bag in hand, he was making one more pass for anything he might have forgotten when his cell phone rang.
He’d been expecting Gina or Ashley to call ever since he’d given the news to Susie. His little sisters worried about him way too much, but now he’d brought the bad guys to their doors and they likely wouldn’t be very happy with him.
Without checking the caller ID, he answered in his usual fashion. “Sanders.”
“Detective. I understand you’re taking a few days off. Does that mean you’re leaving town?”
He hadn’t been expecting a male voice, and it was a few seconds before he recognized the caller. Daniels! How in the hell did Daniels get his number? For that matter, how
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