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She tried to provide all the details she could, but she couldn’t recall much. The whole incident caught her off guard, and she’d been concerned with her own safety and less with remembering details.

“I’ll drive around and see what I can find. You get her home?”

Zane nodded. “Copy that.”

Cole headed back out in the rain. Bridget watched him out the window, barely making out his form getting behind the wheel of a truck parked behind her. She’d never noticed them pull up, and the realization chilled her when she thought of how the man with the sunglasses could have ambushed her while she thought he was gone.

“Bridget, do you think you can slide over the console to this side? I’ll come around and drive us to your house.”

She released a long breath. “You don’t know where I live. Why are you even here?”

“I was at work talking to Sydney and Cole when you called him. Did you know we all work together?”

She nodded. “Cole told me to call him if we ever needed anything since we don’t know anyone in town. I never thought I’d have to call him. I thought he was just being nice when he offered because my niece fixed Sydney’s car.”

“He meant it. When I found out you needed help, I offered to come with him. I had to help my favorite nurse, right?”

She turned away and felt her cheeks flush. “I feel stupid for calling. It was probably nothing. I’m overreacting, right? I mean why would someone follow me and watch my house. It sounds like a bad made-for-TV movie.”

“Let me take you home. We can talk more there.”

She stared out the windshield at the sheets of rain obscuring her view. Thunder sounded in the distance, and a streak of lightning lit up the sky.

“Maybe we should wait out the storm for a little while.”

“I’ve driven in worst weather. Trust me. Slide over here, and I’ll come around. You can give me directions to your house.”

He got out of the car and slammed the door behind him before she could say another word. He was rounding the front of the car, his rain jacket little protection against the storm, so she had no choice but to struggle across the console to drop into the passenger seat. Water dripped on everything when he slid behind the steering wheel, but she didn’t care. She would never say it out loud, but she was relieved to have him there.

She told him how to find her house, and she settled back against the seat as he navigated his way through the storm. The rain started to slack by the time he pulled into her driveway. He helped her get the groceries inside with one trip. They piled the bags on the kitchen counter and shook the rain from their clothes and hair.

“Go change into something dryer. I’ll start putting away your groceries.”

“Oh, no.” She shook her head. “You don’t have to do that. It’s not necessary. You know, you should have Cole or Panther or whatever his name is to come and pick you up. I’m fine. I’m not sure why I got so spooked. It’s silly. I’m sorry for wasting your time.”

She stood with her back to the kitchen sink, the counter separating her from Zane, but he moved to stand in front of her. His hands lightly gripped her shoulders, the heat from his touch searing through her clothes and causing her to shiver.

“You haven’t wasted our time, and you are not silly. We need to talk, but you need to change into some dry clothes first. Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you’re safe.”

“Why is it when someone tells you not to worry, that’s exactly what you do? What is going on? Is the guy really following me? It makes no sense.”

“I know. Trust me for a little longer.”

“I barely know you. You shouldn’t even be here. You should be at home, recuperating. Are you in pain?”

He grinned. “So the nurse in you never shuts off, does it? I’m fine. No pain. I’m just soggy.”

A chuckle burst forth from her throat. “Sorry. I don’t have any clothes to fit you.”

He dropped his hands but didn’t step away from her. “It’s fine. Cole keeps clothes in his truck, so I can change when he gets back. Go. Let me take care of these groceries.”

She started to ask him more questions, but the desire to be warm and dry won out. As she moved out of the kitchen, she gave him one last glance over her shoulder to find him watching her. She returned his smile and disappeared into her room. She longed for a shower but settled on changing her clothes and brushing out her hair.

Low voices carried from the kitchen as she emerged. She wasn’t surprised to see Cole sitting with Zane at her kitchen table. The groceries were put away, and the coffee maker percolated. She breathed in the rich aroma, preparing herself for the conversation she was about to have. Both men stopped talking and regarded her with smiles as she moved to the table to join them.

“Okay.” She sat at the head of the table opposite Cole, and Zane sat at his left side. “What do you guys know that I don’t? Neither of you seem surprised this guy was watching me, and I think I deserve to know why.”

“Sydney told you we work for a security and PI firm, didn’t she?” At Bridget’s nod, Cole continued. “We were approached to take on a case recently, but we turned it down. We think the clients then hired a rival company to take their case. We can’t be sure, but we think the guy watching you today works for them.”