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The job of caring for this Colin Graham guy’s mother was simple. One Brooklyn could do. Would like to do until she decided what came next for her. But the intense study from him left her unsettled. It was like he was trying to read every single secret she held, and she had the bizarre urge to unburden herself to him.

Not happening. She couldn’t very well tell him about the threat to her life. Not and work for him and live a normal life. He had “protector of the innocent” written all over his face. In his posture. In his assessing gaze. Just like all the other men in organizations like Blackwell Tactical and Shadow Lake Survival. Even Nick and his partners in the Veritas Center thought the same way.

“Will you excuse us for one minute?” she asked him. “I need to talk to Nick and Gage again.”

She didn’t wait for an answer but fled the room and hoped the guys would follow her. They did, but they didn’t look happy about it. Or maybe they were more surprised.

She hit the cooling night air, bugs flitting in the light beside the door, and took a long breath before turning. It would take all her efforts to bring these two men around to her side. “I want you both to promise not to tell anyone about Kane.”

“And by anyone, I’m guessing you mean Colin,” Nick said.

“Especially not Colin, but no one in general.”

Gage planted his feet, sending up a little pillow of a dust cloud. “Why?”

“I want to try to live a normal existence and not have every minute of every day a reminder that Kane is hunting me. If I tell guys like you and Colin about my situation, you all go into protective mode and get overbearing.”

“I resemble that comment.” Nick chuckled. “Seriously, though. I get it. I know I do it and some of the other guys do too. Just instinct.”

“I know, and I’m not pointing a finger or placing blame. I appreciate the support, but this has been going on for years now, and I need a break from it.” She rubbed her arms against the night chill. “I know I can’t forget about it and have to keep my eyes open and watch, no matter where I am. But for the first time since I fled from him, I feel like this is an opportunity where he won’t track me down.”

“A reasonable request.” Gage held her gaze. “But you’re putting Colin and his family at risk. He should have the choice of hiring you under these conditions or not.”

“I get that, I do, but I don’t think he would be in any danger now. If I stay off the internet, Kane has no way to track me to this location. And I only plan to take on this job as a temp gig until I can find something more in line with my computer work.”

Gage looked at Nick. “Is she right about that? About Kane not finding her?”

“Yes, in terms of an online footprint, but he could track her the old-fashioned way. On foot. PIs have been doing so for centuries.”

“Odds aren’t good, though, right?” She used her gaze to try to plead for agreement with Nick. “Kane won’t have a reason to connect you with this town and especially not with Shadow Lake.”

“She’s right there,” he admitted, but he sounded reluctant. “Other than a work connection, we really have no ties. He would have to look at everyone I worked with over the years and somehow suspect you or Colin above everyone else.”

Gage’s expression softened. “Can we keep an eye on him?”

Nick shook his head. “Only as much as I can track him online on the dark web. Which I can’t guarantee. Unless he surfaces and leaves tracks for me to follow. If that’s the case, he’ll want to be found, and we would have to be very careful as he would likely be setting a trap to capture Brooklyn.”

“So we avoid these traps, you stay off the internet, and Colin and his family should be safe.” Gage met and held Nick’s gaze.

“Theoretically, yes,” Nick said.

Good. Gage was on the fence. Time to tip him to her side. “You said the Shadow Lake Survival compound is secure as well. He shouldn’t be able to breach the fences and get to us.” Brooklyn tempered her excitement and made sure her earnestness came through. “And I promise if there’s any hint that Kane knows where I am, I’ll notify Colin of the situation and leave immediately.”

“I don’t know.” Gage bit his lip. He was waffling now for sure, something he seemed very uncomfortable with.

“I’ll agree for now,” Nick said. “But let me assess the situation when I get back to my main computer. If I see any risks, you’ll have to tell him, or I will.”

“Fine,” she said, not at all feeling victorious because she did care about bringing others into her situation and the potential for them to be hurt. “If I get even a day of a more normal life, that’s better than nothing.”

“Okay,” Gage said. “I’ll go along with it, but Nick, you call me tomorrow with an update, or I go straight to Colin.”

“I can do that,” Nick said.

“Let’s get back inside then.” Brooklyn pushed past the two men, praying that their expressions didn’t give away their concern to Colin. She really wanted to take this job if even for just a week.

One week of semi-normal life sounded heaven-sent, and she would live every minute of it to the fullest.

Colin bit his tongue against a need to know what the huddle outside was all about. Especially with Gage’s and Nick’s reserved expressions as they marched into the room behind the woman.

“So,” Colin said and leaned back, acting casual when that was the last thing he felt. “I’m assuming that conversation was about the job taking care of my mom.”

She nodded, but bit her lip.

Mixed message for sure. “And are you interested in it?”

“I am. Yes. Very.” She ended with a satisfied sigh.

His pulse tripped. Forget it. Focus on the enthusiasm that she’s showing now. He pointed at a chair across from him. “Take a seat, and we can discuss it to see if we’re a good fit.”

Now why did he say that when just the sight of her made him think of her as a woman not a caregiver? They were as far from a good fit as possible.

“I’ll leave you two to get acquainted,” Gage said. “And work out an employment plan.”

Nick stepped closer to Colin. “Brooklyn and I once worked together as white-hat hackers, so if you want a reference I can give one, but don’t count on it being good.” He laughed and squeezed Brooklyn’s shoulders.

She flashed a smile up at him, but rolled her eyes too. Clearly the two of them had a good relationship.

“Seriously,” Nick said. “She’s good people, and you’d be lucky to have her help with your mom. That is if you can put up with vintage movies. She’s obsessed, especially with the sappy romance ones.”

She shook her head. “You make that sound like a bad thing when it’s anything but.”

“Says you. Give me a Tom Cruise or Bruce Willis film over those any day.” He stepped back. “I’ll leave your things with Gage and call you tomorrow, Stick.”

Stick? He sure couldn’t be referring to her body as there was nothing sticklike about her. Soft curves all the way. So where did it come from?

“Later, man.” She gave Nick a fond smile.

Yeah, the pair were good buddies. That was obvious. Completely. A pang of jealousy hit Colin.

Seriously, dude. Jealous over a woman you just met? Unbelievable.

Gage set keys in front of Brooklyn. “I put you in guest cabin three for the night. Just head back the way we came in, and you can’t miss it.”

“Thanks, Gage. I’ll forever be in your debt.”

“A bit of lodging is no biggie.” He met her gaze. “Just remember our conversation and keep your word.”

She looked as if she was fighting a frown over the sudden strain between them. “You can count on me.”

He gave a sharp nod, and he and Nick took off.

“Seems like you’re good friends with Nick,” Colin said to break the ice.

“We are.” A sweet smile found her lips. “He’s a great guy and a wonderful friend.”

The softness set off a bell of interest in Colin that he thought must sound like the cha-ching of an old-fashioned cash register. “Do you have any experience as a caregiver?”

“Not for pay.” She twisted her fingers together on the tabletop. “But I used to help with my granny before she passed away. She had dementia. I helped with her meds, dressing her, cooking. That’s when I developed a love for old movies. It was what she liked to watch. Especially when she was confused and afraid. Which was often. Especially near the end. But they made her happy, so I was glad to sit with her even if she didn’t know me anymore.”

Her story gave him a measure of confidence in her abilities. Too bad she’d had to experience such an ordeal. “Sounds rough.”

“It’s hard to see someone you love go through something like that. To be so terrified because they couldn’t remember the basics.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “I was honored to help her in any way I could, and I’m glad I could take some of the responsibility off my mom. She’s an only child, and she took everything on.”

“My mom has some memory issues but nothing to that level. More like forgetting to take meds or to eat.” He tried not to sound worried and frighten her off. “She has lupus, and her needs are mostly physical due to joint pain.”

She leaned forward. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

He nodded as he couldn’t trust his voice at that moment. He swallowed. Got a grip. “She has a really good attitude about her situation, but I don’t at times. It seems so unfair that anyone as good as she is should have to suffer so much.” He shook his head. “God and I’ve had a lot of talks about it.”

“And what has He told you?” she asked, sounding honestly interested.

“Well, I don’t know if He’s so much as told me this, or I have come to this conclusion after studying His word that He’s all-knowing and what happens doesn’t have to make sense to me. I just have to trust that He knows what’s best. If He allows it in my life, it’s for my or someone else’s good, and I shouldn’t question it.”

She tilted her head, her thick hair swinging over her shoulder. “And does that give you peace?”

“When I’m actively studying His word and praying about the problem. Yeah, sure. But if I let it slide, then no.” He clasped his hands on the table. “I have to admit to letting it slide too often. Waiting until I am at the end of my rope. When I see Mom really struggling. Then I let the questions fly again, and I basically start all over having to figure out the same thing.” He shook his head. “I’m probably not making a lot of sense.”

“Actually, you are. I see the same pattern in my life. Not about a physical illness but something else.” She shook her head as if telling herself to stop talking. “I should let you know that this would be a temp job for me, and I will likely move on to something IT related if I find a good match. So if you don’t want to hire me, I get it.”

“I need someone right away, and if you can start tomorrow, I’d be glad for the help.” He gave her a quick smile. “This would be a live-in position, but you wouldn’t have to work when my brother and I are off work. We both live with Mom in a cabin on the Shadow Lake Survival compound. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to pay much more than minimum wage.”

“No worries. Oregon minimum wage is a lot better than the national rate. And I’d be glad to start in the morning. I don’t have a car, so maybe I can get Gage to drive me over.”

“I have a training to do here in the morning and can give you a ride afterwards.”

“But your mom,” she said. “Who’ll take care of her?”

“Dev—that’s my brother—will be with her.”

“Oh, okay. Otherwise if it’s better I can come with you tonight, but I’d like to decompress alone if that’s possible.”

He suspected what she had to decompress about was related to her secret conversation with Gage and Nick and that gun at her hip, but he wouldn’t push her by asking because he didn’t want to do anything to risk her not starting tomorrow. If there was a problem he needed to know about Gage or Nick would’ve made sure he knew.

“Take off,” he said. “Decompress. We can work out all the details on the drive to Shadow Lake tomorrow.”

She stood and held out her hand. “I look forward to working with you and your family.”

“My class is from eight to ten, so if you could be ready to go by ten that would be great.” He took her hand in his, the shock of her touch not a surprise for him, but the flicker of interest in those emerald eyes was. He ignored it.

A relationship was the last thing he needed right now with a career change and with all that was going on with his mother. Even if he did want one, he wouldn’t go there with the woman who was going to solve his problem. At least in the short run, and if it worked out, maybe he could convince her to stay longer.

That is, if her secret didn’t turn out to be a problem.