Her heart was pounding. Worry for Zach made her chest ache. Linc had a reasonable answer for everything. But the more he took over, the more afraid she became.
“You don’t understand,” she said, turning away from him. “You can’t keep doing this. You can’t keep solving my problems.”
“Why not?”
Because sooner or later you’ll be gone. Sooner or later I’ll be back on my own. Because if I get in any deeper, I’m going to fall in love with you and you’re going to break my heart.
Watching Linc with Zach, seeing the man he was, made her want things she could never have. Dear God, he was Lincoln Cain! She didn’t dare fall in love with him.
“Why not?” she repeated. “Because I need to take care of myself. I always have and that isn’t going to change.”
His features darkened. He didn’t like the sound of that. He was used to being in charge.
“Fine, if that’s the way you want it. But whatever you do, the boy needs our help. Surely you can at least agree to that.”
She sighed. She had to agree. She had to do what was best for Zach.
Carly wished she could just run away, get as far from Lincoln Cain as she possibly could. She wished she could find a way to protect herself, to distance herself from all that appealing, self-assured masculinity, from all the things he made her feel.
But she had to think of the boy who was now her responsibility.
“You’re right,” she said softly. “Zach has to come first.” She moved afew steps away from Linc, then mourned the distance she had put between them. “I’d better check on him, make sure he’s okay.”
Linc said nothing as she headed down the hall. When she reached Zach’s bedroom, she found him curled up on top of the covers, sound asleep. He looked so innocent, so vulnerable, her heart clutched. There was a time she had wanted children, a family. She tried not to wonder what Linc would want. He had never had children. Would he want them?
The thought sent a shockwave through her. After two failed engagements and years of dating men whose actions had convinced herhappily ever afterwasn’t for her, she had given up dreams of home and family.
But there had never been a man who made her feel the way Linc did, one she trusted the way she trusted him. No matter what happened, she wasn’t ready to give him up.
Summoning her courage, Carly turned and walked back down the hall. Hands clasped behind his back, Linc stood staring out the kitchen window.
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. Linc turned. “I’ve never let anyone in before, no one except Joe. I’ve always relied on myself. It’s hard for me to accept help from you or anyone else. Please forgive me.”
His handsome features softened. Linc strode toward her, pulled her into his arms. “You’re the strongest woman I know. I wouldn’t change that for anything.”
A hard lump rose in her throat. No man had ever accepted her for the person she was inside. Maybe Linc was different. Maybe she should let things play out.
Carly trembled. She had never been a risk taker, but she was taking a big risk now.
Linc lowered his head and kissed her—just as her phone chimed a text coming in.
Carly jerked away. “What if it’s him?”
“Let’s find out.” Linc crossed to the breakfast table, grabbed Carly’s purse, and handed it over. He watched as she nervously ransacked the bag, fished out her smart phone, and read the text at the bottom of the screen.
“Oh, God.”
Linc took the phone from her hand and read the message out loud. “Tuesday night, oneA.M.Pickup site to follow.”
“It’s him. What . . . what am I going to do?”
Linc caught her shoulders. “I know you don’t want my help, but these people are deadly and they’re not going to stop until someone stops them. Miguel Hernandez was murdered and El Jefe is likely the man responsible. There’s a chance you could be next.”
A shaky breath whispered out. “I know.”
“I’m going to call Quinn Taggart and set up a meeting. We’ll talk to him, but we won’t give the FBI details until we’ve got some kind of plan that won’t end up getting you killed. All right?”
For once Carly didn’t argue. “Okay.”
