est of her twelve-hour nig

slowed to a mere trickle

ridiculous awareness of Ga

ly exh

re in awe at the rising su

ul sight helped resto

nice, too, even though

held an early morning ser

of the small, beautiful, w

es of the trees. She was

xt two days off before sh

ur shifts were to endure

der

awned so wide her jaw p

e pried her eyes open wi

ices and head home since sh

s only a few miles away.

thout a

o go off in five hours, so

worst part about working n

s on her

ve hours later, she groa

her body craved more slee

upr

ght breakfast helped cle

f her mind. She stared out

d rush of adrenalin. She

nto a ponytail to keep it o

ys from the sun as

e hardest, but once she hi

l, shaded by towering tree

ilarating rhythm. Other t

closest to God, and she sile

a

where locals and tourists were enjoying the water. S

the lake, although buying

of her

ught with a smile. She’d

p and to get far away fr

ps busted up a drug deal

om hers had pushed

utely loved it he

ptly interrupted by the h

trail, peering over her s

re he came upon

came louder, and she stifl

-packed, hilly trail co

rested the hill, heading

out of harm’s way. But she

and branches. She went

ve, the driver letti

sessing for injuries. Her

from her tumble, but it

ankle zinged with pain. G

oughly two and a ha

ke grew louder again, an

had the nerve to come ba

, he was riding down the

ght f

had the distinct impress

he scrambled out of the w

orbike whizzed by, so close

e blasting aga

several long moments, af

ird time. She sent up a sil

lly let go of the tree and

rated up her leg with ever

vised, using it a

s on the trail made her t

n the driver of the motor

t unusual to pass othe

irt and navy blue shorts, with ear buds tucked into his ears blocking out the

d quiet was so much more

w

d, she grimaced when sh

prised; she’d passed him on

ef greetings before head

f her, he frowned and

his ears. “Larissa, are yo

not to jump as he steppe

cleared her throat and str

y past you?” she asked wr

rail—

dropped down to a crouch

prodded her ankle. She su

her. “This looks

doc,” she said lightly. “

gured that out

but sent her a lopsided s

rule out lig

t I can’t do that until

y, ri

picture if you wait a few

lean on me, and I’ll

unexpected she nearly l

zy up to Gabe for two and

ur run short because of m

I’ll be

not leaving you here like

and my place isn’t that far

m h

seemed like a long way, b

t. She reluctantly nodded.

he wrapped his arm fi

sily, shortening his

awkward, and she was far

who that motorbike drive

from his nearness. “I’d repo

n these

inkle,” Gabe said. “I’ve taken ca

edge almost made her fee

father hit

al moments. “Actually, I

he said finally. “The las

rrest for driving under th

, no problem. I got the im

ts. Maybe even

head. “Poor Annie. I’m ge

e in that

ey walked along in silenc

und her waist, drawing h

t’s my place. Think yo

assured him, even though

Not to mention, being thi

er hard-wo

afford to let her guard

h she w

____

distance to his place as

good conscience, leave La

like this hadn’t been the b

rfectly, her slight frame h

looked terrible, but she

to help her, he knew she

asking for

for the tenth time that s

s off-limits

le was the one who’d ru

er. Larissa was right, th

uldn’t be much the poli

thing wrong?”

wn in surpris

is getting tighter and t

to lighte

f. “Sorry about that,” he

ng about Tommy. How’s

“I’m trying to take heart in the fact t

nd then you can relax,”

oking the lake was his pr

having women over, it wa

wn on foot. He knew she l

and several of the other s

paring notes one day abo

ghb

ustic,” she said as the

more feet to go. “Some

..fla

chest as if wounded. “Do

es for

tors generally live a much

of

intment regarding her ob

The ones who set their s

hat they wanted, stooped s

y destroyed a m

e murmured. “You must l

ng to waste any time thin

Three more feet and they

e step all right? Or

,” she respo

her, and she limped insi

with a sigh. “Feels good t

ore favors, but I’d a

oon as we clean up those

rom the dirt filled abrasion

ck

to—” she began, but he

om cabinet, finding everyt

. When he returned, he di

the k

your carpet,” she said wit

crapes on my hands

he table and then went o

t over and knelt beside h

oft washcloth and beg

bad, and she didn’t say

he asked when he finished

measly doctor wouldn’t k

” she said in a low voic

od thing I’m off work for

ll be as go

our doctor. He’ll write

nger if

ed. “I’m sure you want to

e me home, I’ll get

ange, and he thought she

ned her running shoe. “Firs

n too much worse, which w

past twenty minutes. Mayb

sked when he’d finishe

sounded strained

ment, trying to gauge her

idge. He pulled out a bott

his own water, he took a b

an ice pack,” he said, dra

d chuckle. “Too funny. I

as an ice

n her smile. “I bet every

free

took a long drink of wa

ing else you think you need

et g

offer to make her dinner b

ome. Here, lean on me.

to the peas and the wate

ith the other. It was a sho

she was safely tucked

her window on the ride h

ome reason. After about te

rtment

up to her apartment despi

thing else?” he asked aft

ee you later,” she barely

mly betw

oor for several long seco

car. The thought that she’

didn’t

e’d interrupted his run—

infiltrated his thoughts f