He has always stood by the McBrides.
Which is why doing this hurts so much.
Lying to him.
Keeping something so essential to the safety of the residents here from him.
But I can’t risk that he would do his job right now.
Not until there are protections in place for Willow.
He turns back to her. “Are you going to be working here at the shop?”
She tips her head down and tries not to look at him as she answers, pretending to fiddle with something on the counter. “Oh, I’m not sure yet.”
I tighten my grip on her. “I keep her pretty busy up at the homestead.”
Shit.
That came out all wrong.
I hadn’t meant to make it sound sexual—not that it isn’t also true—but was referring to the way she’s stepping in to help with Niall, learning how to make candles with Willow, and even assists with caring for the animals and other chores on the land as if she was meant to always be a part of it.
“I’m sure you do, son.” He winks and claps me on the shoulder, then leans his head down to look at Lucky’s face until she tips it back up to him. “It was nice to formally meet you. I didn’t get your last name.”
Her back stiffens, the tension in her shoulders under my arm so intense it feels like she might shatter, and her cheeks start to redden. “Oh. Marlowe.”
He smiles. “Lucky Marlowe. Well, welcome to McBride Mountain.” He tips his hat to her. “Formally.”
With that, he steps away, heading toward Willow.
Lucky releases a long, shaky breath. “Oh, my God…”
Her body trembles, and I pull her into me, ducking my head to whisper in her ear. “I’m getting you out of here.”
“He saw my face, Liam.” She keeps it tipped down against my chest. “He looked directly at me.”
Looking at Lucky is one of my favorite things on this planet, and any other time, I might have told her that. But not now. Not when the panic and risk are so very real.
“It’ll be okay, Bluebell. Let’s go.”
I glance over my shoulder to where Killian stands watching, but there isn’t any sign of Connor.
Where the hell did he go?
Killian inclines his head toward the back door, suggesting we leave, and I nod and urge Lucky in that direction, past the closed door to the office, and out into the alley behind the shop. Which is thankfully quiet and empty.
Lucky immediately turns and leans back against the brick, releasing another shaky breath. “Oh, my God.” She presses her hands over her chest and looks up at me with tears pooling in her eyes. “I can’t do this. What if he recognized me? What if?—”
“Hey”—I step in front of her and take her face in my palms—“I told you we would protect you, and I meant that. That means from everyone. Including him.”
“He’s the sheriff, Liam. There’s only so much you can do.”
I offer her a tight smile, raising my eyebrows incredulously. “Did you forget I’m a McBride?”
She shakes her head. “No, but you aren’t God. And that man has a job. One that involves taking action if he ever figures out who I am.”
“He won’t.” I try to sound convincing, for my own sake as well as for hers, but she isn’t wrong about Tony Briggs. “At least, not until all this is cleared up.”
