?” Gabe asked, every s

to remain calm.

t his. “I don’t know, but

li

at back toward his pier.

anyone to know sh

oftly, as if she didn’t w

then—nothing. I’m worri

ned t

was coming from. The d

story despite her claims of

c violence cases when he’

he women didn’t just get

ieving the guy was going t

uldn’t happen, but it

the deputies over t

the phone, speaking to

crash she’d heard. After s

they’d send a squad o

he pulled up next to his

e quick work of tying up t

ing

front lawn at a fast pace

e and Kurt live?” she a

us

t where this was going. “

n’t have access to the lake

rt likes his privacy.” Pri

his wife without

u drive

e he was worried about h

ble. Yet how could he ref

ie down if she was upset

the patient duri

reed. “But we’re not going in

anted to protest, but she

t. He took the crutches, st

round to the

” Laris

he speed limit, but he n

g Annie back, see

sted, but apparently no

r lap. “I don’t like it,”

ri

th side of the lake, he

sped past them, kicking

feeling a se

pray the deputies had

ng, winding driveway, he

and cut t

e asked, her tone laced

ck on

there. We can’t just barg

a bad situation. For all

weapons involved.” And f

hunter, so for sure he own

t sit here for a

ayed her frustration, but

ke her hand in his. “Dear L

e in Your care

Larissa

windshield, searching for

ws were down, too, but th

t was a good thing or not.

what if everyone was alre

thou

p her calm, but she could

that Gabe had prayed with

t have asked him more abo

rom his

s reached her ears, and

ar that?” s

re’s nothing to worry

believe that, she knew

rn over a new leaf. They a

matter what it took. An

m’s f

uld you do something so

before you open u

the warm air as memorie

beat her mother on a regul

ating Larissa that her mo

abe whispered. “You su

herself together. “

tartled her, and she held

. The two deputies

asked through his open

gh

d a long look. “Apparentl

pot of hot water off the

g medical care. And Kurt h

e

knowing that there was w

nnie wouldn’t come forwa

medical care, they could

i

othered you

homas said with a dark fro

are tied. Let us know i

red, feeling sick to he

p the car and drove away.

until Annie w

ng was whether or not she

____

issa, who’d been unusual

w about some steaks on

rise, and he mentally bra

aid slowly, “that

Larissa in the friendship

umed that Larissa didn’t want to be alone, and he co

e was about An

s glad al

stop at a grocery store,”

go along with

appy to pay for salad

he said firmly as he exec

w minutes later, he pulled

grocer

car, once again distracte

hes out of the back seat

?” he

d, swinging into a c

followed her to the pr

k delicious,

“If you lik

horror. “You don’t lik

veryone lik

h a wry grin. “But hel

umb

, what’s n

ng?” he asked when they’

ssing at home, but if you

ne

h dressing,

d that they had some ta

out lines, and he I ignored

groceries. It was a little

ering he’d already atte

d ruined his reputation

n here in Crystal Lake. H

befo

that he’d been living a l

veggies for dinner with L

ide the hospital. As long

nt remained untarn

se didn’t take long. Once

salads,” she said, running

You can grill

s he pulled the steaks ou

fternoon. The fact that he

along made him pa

breaking his cardinal rule

’t afford to do anything

that’s all. And friends cou

. Not a

ill when Larissa came out

throat at the pretty sigh

soft smile that tugged at

Salads are ready whenever

omato to be found in yours

h t

d in his throat, and he h

reat,” he finally managed

o find his balance even as

ly turned i

“And let me guess, you’re

t to moo

gh. “Not me, I like my s

, overlooking the lake,

ore. When the sun set

ey reluctantly went ins

e dirty dishes in and set t

he shooed her away. “I ha

eason for yo

“It’s time for me to head

er,

e said huskily. As much

ld be best for him if she

comfortable around her. “D

he c

se things by now,” she s

gh you were right about t

. My arms are already tir

a

meant. “You’ll get used

ope

r her so she could make

t take long, another novelt

he streets in Madison led

tal nightmar

ow?” Larissa asked, bre

are

ay.” Was that a flash o

to tell in the dim light.

ues to cover for him so t

eth

Really bad idea. Besides,

gh

topic. “If your ankle isn’t

think you migh

,” she

lot of her apartment buil

ourse, being Larissa, she w

her

s, he hurried around to as

and teetered

catching her before she c

is arms perfectly, and sud

r

athlessly, her face bu

the desire to wrap his ar

ulled back a bit and tipped

n’t seem to

th to capture hers