Page 99 of Present Danger (Rocky Mountain Courage 1)

Oh? Terra hadn’t known about that. Disappointment crept in.

Alex still perused the offerings.

“What about you, Alex?” Erin asked. “What are you up to? I don’t even know who you’re working for these days.”

Alex set down his menu. “I’ve decided what I want.”

“Oh, I get it,” Erin said. “Your job is classified. Secretive. You always said you—”

He lifted a hand. “I don’t need you psychoanalyzing me, thank you very much.”

“I’m not psychoanalyzing, but I get it. You can’t talk about it.”

He leaned on folded arms. “I’d prefer not to talk about work tonight, all right, ladies? Now, what I’m really wondering is why you two gorgeous women aren’t married yet.”

Great. Terra hadn’t wanted to get into those issues, because that could lead to talking about working with Jack. But leave it to Alex to cut right to the more sensitive topics. And she’d wanted them to share their secrets, hadn’t she?

Terra gave Alex a friendly arm punch. “I beg your pardon. Why is it that we’re supposed to be married already? What about you? You’re a real catch, Alex. Bad attitude and all. You’ve got so much more going for you than that six-pack underneath your button-down shirt.”

He eyed her. “And how would you know about that?”

“It’s just a guess. You’re in great condition, and it’s easy to see you work out. You have to stay in top form for your job. Am I right? Or am I right?”

The waiter brought a basket of bread and seasoned olive oil for dipping, took their orders, then left. Alex cut a slice of bread, dipped, and chewed. Terra figured he had no intention of answering her.

But he finished chewing, then surprised her. “I’m no catch. The truth is, after what happened to us, seeing families torn apart in one swift tragedy, seeing the brutal world out there, I’m not sure I want to suffer through the pain. You guys, you’re my best friends. You’re all I need.”

Terra wanted to scoff a laugh. “And as your friends, we know that we are certainly not all you need.”

She considered Erin and Alex the closest people to her, but the truth was that life had torn them apart. Alex especially was becoming a stranger to her. Kind of like Owen had when he left. She felt helpless to do anything about it.

The waiter reappeared and set steaming plates of lasagna, spaghetti Bolognese, and chicken parmigiana before them. The aroma was heavenly.

“Can I get you anything else?”

“No, thank you. I think we’re all good,” Erin said as everyone nodded in agreement.

Terra cut into her lasagna to let it cool while Alex didn’t seem to be bothered by a hot dish and started right in on his chicken.

“You know what,” Erin said. “I feel like we’re not as close as we once were. As close as we could be.”

“It doesn’t take a psychologist to see that.” Alex frowned. “Look, you two are the sisters I never had and my best friends. Let’s say you’re my only friends. The only two people I can completely trust. I look out for you the best I can. Call when I can. And like this weekend, I took off to come out here for Owen’s welcome-home party and for a visit to the memorial.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry if I’ve been a little preoccupied and somewhat disconnected. Maybe I can talk about the reasons some other time. And who knows, maybe life will bring me back to live closer to my two favorite people.”

Terra’s heart warmed, then it turned stone-cold when she spotted the man who approached the table.

She knew that look in Jack’s eyes, and he brought no good news.