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“You don’t have to pick me up,” Thea said.

“I would really like to help you into the truck, if you’ll let me.”

After a few tense seconds, she wrapped an arm around him and held his shoulder with the other. He easily lifted her from the chair and gently placed her in the passenger’s seat.

“All good?” he asked.

She squirmed a little. “All good,” she confirmed.

Brett thanked the man and rounded the truck. Once they were on the road, Thea started squirming more.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. I’m just not used to sitting up like this. But it feels great to be free.”

Freedom. Was that what this was? It sure felt like some kind of bond had been cut away. He had Thea beside him, and they were heading home. Well, to the home he’d made since leaving his family behind. She had her own home, and she wanted to get back to it.

Was he selfish to want to keep her? If she didn’t want to stay, would she let him come with her? He’d eased up on the flirting, and they’d settled into a companionable friendship. While he loved spending that time with her, he’d been suppressing the part of his heart that wanted more. If she wanted that same thing, she hadn’t let on.

“Asa called while you were getting ready to leave. How do you feel about giving a statement today?”

“I totally forgot about that. Yeah, that’s fine. Do we need to go to the sheriff’s department?”

“He said he could meet us at the ranch. He knows his way around. I’ll let him know which cabin you’ll be in.”

“Thanks. I can’t believe I forgot to call him back. I don’t even remember where I put his card.”

“It’s fine. He’s not upset. He knows you’ve been through a lot lately. Are you sure you’re ready to do this? Do you need to rest some more?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. I’d rather just get it over with.”

She’d avoided all talk of their families the last few days, and he couldn’t blame her for wanting to pretend that twisted reality didn’t exist. “Do you know what you’re going to say?”

Thea sighed and sank down farther in the seat. “I have no idea.”

“They got my statement. The first morning at the hospital,” Brett confessed.

“They did? Oh, I remember Asa telling me that now. What did you say?”

A tinge of panic laced her words, and Brett lifted his hand to reach for her. He’d barely moved before returning his hand to the wheel. He’d been doing a good job of keeping his hands to himself lately, despite the constant urge to touch her. “Nothing that would put you in more danger.”

“What about you? If they find out you told the cops anything, they’ll come for you.”

“What could I tell them? Unfortunately, I don’t know who deserves all this anger.” He gripped the steering wheel and savored the burning in his palms as he pressed and twisted the hard leather.

“I don’t either. Actually, I might not know any of them if I met them on the street. People change a lot in five years.”

“Some don’t,” Brett said. “You haven’t.”

“How do you know that?” Thea whispered.

“I just do. You’re still the girl who cried while I dissected a frog in biology class. You’re still the girl who stayed up late helping me study for tests. You’re still the girl I…”

Brett’s throat constricted, cutting off his words. She was still the woman he wanted to spend his life with. The last few days had reassured him of that fact, but her feelings hadn’t caught up yet. Would they ever?

Thea cleared her throat, saving him from the hasty love confession. “There’s still a lot about me you don’t know,” she said quietly.

“Will you let me get to know you?” He glanced at her in the passenger seat. She was beautiful in ways no other woman could be. Her dark hair was pushed behind her ears, and the swelling of her cheek couldn’t touch the softness in those sea-green eyes.