"That's the problem." She whirled to face him, her arms flailing.
And he wasright there, his hands enclosing her upper arms, thumbs rubbing soothing strokes down her skin. His eyes were filled with compassion.
And she broke.
"Toby said he'd kill anybody I got close to." The words rushed out of her like steam from a teakettle. "I can't—"
He pulled her in. Cradled her against his powerful chest. One hand cupped the back of her head.
"I saw a red Mustang in town.” Her words were muffled against his shirt. “If it's him—"
“Don’t.” He ducked his head close to hers, his voice low and calm as he spoke right into her ear. "We're in this together."
They were the words she’d uttered from when he'd been so violently sick.
And then, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
She wanted to believe him, wanted to weep at the wave of relief that swept through her.
But…
His jaw brushed her temple as he spoke again. "You're holding all of this so close. Let me carry some of it for you."
She knew what it cost him to make the offer. Especially after today.
She tilted her head back. They were so close that she could've counted his dusky eyelashes.
His gaze fell to her lips and then back to her eyes. Did he want to kiss her?
Her hands rested on his shoulders, and she used them to steady herself as she rose on tiptoe, seeking his mouth.
Closer. Closer.
Her upper lip brushed his lower lip.
And he tipped his head back until he was looking at the ceiling.
Oh. Oh no. Had she misread him? Her face burned.
She released his shoulders, but he kept his arms around her waist.
"Molly... You're vulnerable, and I don't want to take advantage."
She felt the rise and fall of his sigh. "No matter how much I want to kiss you right now."
He did want to kiss her. Her heart fluttered, and a little of her humiliation disappeared.
But his statement was soCord. Wanting to protect her.
She wasn't sure it was necessary. She was already falling for him.
Which is why she raised up on tiptoe again and brushed a kiss on his Adam's apple.
That’s when he stepped away.
Molly satbeside Cord on a rickety folding chair in the sheriff's office. She was huddled in her coat, arms folded over her midsection. She couldn't stop her foot from jiggling where she'd crossed her legs.
Cord had his arm around her shoulders.
