Page 91 of Danger Close

She shrugged, her hands on the lapels of my jacket, closing it tight against the slight breeze that pulled the strands of her away from her pretty face.

“As close to Trinity as she’ll allow me?” It was a question, not a statement. But the desire was certainly there.

“Good.” A smile tugged on my lips. “That’s exactly where I’d want to be, too.”

Teri gasped when the crunch of footsteps pulled her attention from me. She was hypervigilant and frozen, her head turning to the sound like she was a deer in headlights.

“It’s the Secret Service,” I said, quietly, as an armed man in a suit came towards us, stepping into the lights that washed from the bulbs inside the farmhouse.

“Mr. Guerro,” the female agent nodded respectfully as she walked by on her route.

I nodded back, having no idea what her name was. To pull her from her fear, I caressed her cheek. “So, we’ll buy the house next to Trinity’s, then?”

She laughed, her eyes sparkling with humor. “She’d never let me that close to her.”

“We’ll have to convince her, then.” We reached the steps of the porch, and walked to the unlocked front door. Beau, the dog, was awake, stretching on the couch, completely uninterested in what was going on outside his house.

I should take lessons from him on retirement.

When we got to the guest room, there were pajamas laid out on the bed, probably courtesy of Charlotte. She and I mighthave had our professional differences, but she was a thoughtful woman, especially when she decided to adopt you the way she had Teri.

“Do you want to change?” I asked, busying myself with the fireplace which had fresh logs, and rolled up newspapers set aside to start the fire.

“Change?” she asked, her head tilting.

When the fire caught, I went to the door, hand on the doorknob.

“Into the pajamas.”Do you want me to let you dress in privacy? Can I stay, and help you, instead? Like a husband…

For agonizing minutes, I stood there, waiting for her answer.

“No, I don’t want to put on the pajamas.” Her voice was steady.

I swallowed.

“Do you want to sleep in the dress?”

“No.”

“Do you want me to leave?” Good God, don’t make me leave.

She didn’t answer for a long moment. I did what I could to fortify myself for her rejection. I’d respect it.I’d respect her.

“No.” Her answer almost made me jump.

She clasped her hands in front of her, statuesque, and perfect. The dramatic lighting suited her.

In thirty years of imaginings, I’d always seen her in elegant rooms with gold and art deco filigree. I saw her in high society, wearing gowns so expensive, they could be sold to pay for a family home. But here? In this humble farmhouse, with the quilted bed, and stained wooden beams overhead, she fit too.

There was nowhere in the world she did not fit, so long as she let me stay with her.

I flipped the latch, locking the door.

“Promise me…” Her voice broke before she cleared her throat with a swallow. “Promise me we’ll be okay.”

Her eyes shined with unshed tears, and I wanted to pry whatever thoughts were in her head out. I wanted to know, and understand, everything that crossed her mind.

“Make me believe it, Joe.” She smiled at her request. “Make me think that we can be a family. That we can be happy. Just for a moment.”